US #1 Fayetteville Manlius are perfect - take the top 5 places to win "AA" title over US #3 Saratoga. NY #1 FM boys also win "AA" title over NY#2 North Rockland Nick Hughes (North Rockand) and Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall) run course records to highlight the individual action. (photos by John Nepolitan)
US #1 Fayetteville Manlius goes 1-2-3-4-5 on the field of the “AA” to score of perfect 15. US #3 Saratoga gets 2nd behind the parade of FM runner. With 100 meters to go the national leaders had the top 4 places, but Katie Sischo kicked hard to nail down 5th place to complete the sweep, Leading the way was Courtney Chapman who repeats as individual champ.
The Fayetteville Manlius boys team came in #1 in NY and even though they were fighting illness and without team leader Alex Hatz still held on for a 48 – 63 win over NY #2 North Rockland. North Rockland had the individual winner in Nick Hughes. Hughes was in 3rd with less then 300 meters to go, but kicked the best of the leaders to stop the clock at a new course record 15:26.3 which would hold up as the best time of the day.
Even without Emily Lipari to push her, Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall) broke her own course record with a time of 17:00.1 to win the “A” race by 43 seconds over the Danielle Winslow (Queensbury) and post the best time of the day.
The local fans were given a treat in the first race of the day when hometown Mike Champagne (Seton – Plattsburgh) bounced up after a fall with less than 400 meters to go to repeat as “D” champ.
Brandon Freyer (Pawling) and defending champ Max Straneva (Chenango Valley) battled right to the line with Freyer getting the win in class “C”. Once again the Racha’s- Dylan and Cody paced their Holland Patent team to a win.
The 1-2 finish by Alex Deir and Steve Mangan would lead Honeoye Falls Lima to the “B” title.
East Aurora girls win for the 5th year in a row taking the "B" title by 12 over HFL.
Freshman Megan Young (Nanuet) and Christine Driscoll (Geneva) battle to the line with Young getting the win by .5
Team Champions
CLASS "AA" - BOYS - Fayetteville Manlius 48 over North Rockland 63
GIRLS - Fayetteville Manlius 15 over Saratoga 59
CLASS "A" - BOYS - Burnt Hills 38 over McQuaid 57
GIRLS - Queensbury 34 over Mendon 64
CLASS "B" - BOYS - Honeoye Falls Lima 42 over Bayport Bluepoint 85
GIRLS - East Aurora 48 over Honeoye Falls Lima 60
CLASS "C" - BOYS - Holland Patent 40 over Pawling 91
GIRLS - Bronxville 41 over Tully 65
CLASS "D" - BOYS - Barker 66 pver Beaver River 76
GIRLS - Greenwich 24 over Maple Grovw 80
Winners Table (Click on race name to be taken to results)
11/12 UPDATE: Lipari out of Class A race - Roslyn NY sr, US#7 and 2-time defending Class A champ Emily Lipari has reportedly scratched from Saturday's meet, with the cause said to be a lower leg injury.
High Noon 2009 style
Ok so it will really be 12:05, but you get the idea – the 2009 NYSPHSAA XC Champs will have a number of high power match ups when runners fight it out over the SUNY Plattsburgh 5000 course, but the Girls “A” race,scheduled for 12:05, could be one that will be talked about for the rest of the year. Defending champ Emily Lipari (Roslyn) will face off against one of the hottest runners in the nation, Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall). And to the mix the Winslow sisters of Queensbury and the end results could be much like last weeks Connecticut Open Championships where four runners entered the last 400 meters together and two fighting it out to the line. Cuffe ran a fast 17:22 on the Plattsburgh layout back in September at the “Pre-State meet”. This could be the 1st of 4 races between Lipari and Cuffe as both are sure to see each other the following two weeks at the Federation Championships and Northeast Footlocker Regional and even a possible forth should both qualify for the Footlocker Nationals once again.
Before and after the 12:05 Class A race there are other races that are sure to provide fans with a something to talk about on the drive home.
The Boys “AA” race will bring together state #1 Fayetteville Manlius against #2 North Rockland. If either team is to falter, #4 Warwick Valley or #6 Rush-Henrietta could take home the trophy. The individual race also could be a close one with Nick Hughes(North Rockland), Quinn Raseman (Ward Melville), Brendan Farrell(FM), Colin Savage(Liverpool), Dan Harris(Shenendehowa),Alex Saavedra(Sachem East), Tim Luthin(Warwick Valley),Martin Hehir(Washingtonville) and Marco Bertolotti(Port Washington) all in the mix.
The local fans could get a thrill in the opening race of the day, Class “D”, when Plattsburgh’s Michael Champagne (Seton Catholic) has a chance to take the individual title. Champagne is sure to be pushed by Cooperstown's Caleb Edmonds. The Class “B” race could end up with the day’s best time when NON steeplechase champion Alex Dier (Honeoye Falls-Lima) take to the course. The “C” race should see defending champion Max Straneva (Chenango Valley) looking to remain undefeated, but will have to face the duo of Dylan and Cody Racha who will be looking to lead their Holland Patent team to the title they missed last year by just 1 point.
The girls “AA” race could also be the best team battle on the girls side with US #1 Fayetteville Manlius facing US #3 Saratoga, NY #6 Monroe Woodbury and #10 Arlington. If FM runs anything like they did at the Manhattan Invitational earlier in the season this will not be close, but with the talent Saratoga will line up with, they cannot be ignored. Individually the “AA” contest could also see a large number of runners in contention late into the race. Defending champion Courtney Chapman (Fayetteville) should be the favorite, but if she is off her game a number of her own team mates could be in crowned individual champion. Others in contention include: Keelin Hollowood (Saratoga), Lizzie Predmore (Shenendehowa),Nicole Irving(Shenendehowa), Katie Skinner(Riverhead)and Brigid Brennan (Northport). If the pace is slow and if she is allowed to stay clos,e last year’s NYS 1500 meter champion, Megan Patrignelli (Monroe-Woodbury)could kick for the win. The next to last race of the day Girls Class “B” could also provide some fireworks for both the individual and team titles with runners on the contending teams also in the hunt for the individual gold as well. Samantha Nadal (North Shore), Marta McLaughlin(East Aurora) and Amanda Moreland(Honeoye Falls-Lima) will all be fighting for every last place to help the team cause. Lauren Mullins (Johnson City) has dominated the upstate competition this year and will look to remain undefeated.
With temperatures expected to be in the mid 50’s and very little chance of rain the weather should not play much of a factor in the day’s races, but the flu could be a different story as many teams haev been effected in some way late in the season.
Schedule of Events
8:45 a.m. Opening Ceremonies 9:00 a.m. Boys Class D 9:25 a.m. Boys Class AA 9:50 a.m. Boys Class A 10:15 a.m. Boys Class B 10:40 a.m. Boys Class C 11:05 a.m. Girls Class D 11:35 a.m. Girls Class AA 12:05 p.m. Girls Class A 12:35 p.m. Girls Class B 1:05 p.m. Girls Class C 2:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony @ Plattsburgh HS
