Michael Connor Memorial Boys Seeded Varsity AAA
Photo via Mundo Sport Images
Individuals: Bryce Millar of FM has been on a tear in the early season. He is currently 4/4 for course records, including VVS, Baldwinsville, Long Branch Park, and West Genesee. In his way for number 5 is his biggest challenge yet, McQuaid. Set by Mickey Burke of Rush-Hernietta last year, when he would go on to take 4th place overall at Foot Locker Nationals later that year, the mark of 14:25 was 10-seconds faster than the decade old previous record. While many national outlets, including our own, are heralding Mikey Brannigan as the top harrier in NY, it's important to remember that Millar is the defending State Champion in New York, and he won't give up that title easily. However, demonstrating the growth of the meet, Braydon Rennie of Ernidale SS in Canada is making the trip to capture that same course record. Running as an individual without a team, Rennie is fresh off competing in Nanjing, China for his Canadian National Team at the IAAF Youth Olympic Games. He holds PR's of 3:50 for 1500m and 8:26 for 3000m. Another unheralded runner would be Millar's teammate, Pete Ryan. At both Baldwinsville and Long Branch Park, Ryan was less than a meter behind Millars course record runs, and could challenge for the win here as well. Behind the top 3, there is a strong contingent of chasers. Dan Dracup of Ithaca has recovered from an injury that sidelined him last spring, and is running well locally. Likewise, hometown hero Nick Ciolkowski of McQuaid has taken the early season easy, nursing a nagging pain. Expect him to be ready to represent in his senior year close to where he left off in 2013.
Teams: Four of the top five teams in Class A will be in this race. Fayetteville-Manlius and Liverpool have met up twice already. Manlius looks as strong as ever, while Liverpool is still respectable competition in their own right. Making their first trip to the big show at McQuaid is Class A #4 Shenendehowa. They look to be a strong force in Section 2, picking up where the Saratoga boys left off. Rounding out the top teams will be Ithaca, currently at Class A #5. Out-of-State/Country teams that could challenge is PA #3 Conestoga, who have only raced short courses in the early season. Likewise, PA #7 Pennsbury is in the same boat. Brampton Centennial, CAN, and Strongsville, OH round out the non-Empire State squads.
Top Speed Rated Athletes
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Name Yr Team Speed Rating
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1 Bryce Millar Fayetteville-Manlius 193
2 Peter Ryan Fayetteville-Manlius 193
3 Braydon Rennie Erindale, Canada 190+?
4 Dan Dracup Ithaca 187
5 Nick Ciolkowski McQuaid 187?
6 Kyle Barber Fayetteville-Manlius 185
7 Petrella, Ben Liverpool 184
8 Adam Hunt Fayetteville-Manlius 183
9 Buck, Connor Liverpool 181
10 David Leff Genesee 180
Varsity Boys Team Scores based on best Speed Rated Performances
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Team Pts 1 2 3 4 5 (6) (7)
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1 Fayetteville-Manlius 25 1 2 5 7 10 24 29
Total Time: 29 Average: 5.80 1-5 Split: 10
2 Liverpool 63 6 8 11 12 26 30 32
Total Time: 1:08 Average: 13.60 1-5 Split: 20
3 Shenendehowa 97 13 18 19 22 25 28 35
Total Time: 1:42 Average: 20.40 1-5 Split: 12
4 Ithaca 106 3 16 20 31 36 - -
Total Time: 1:52 Average: 22.40 1-5 Split: 34
5 McQuaid 153 4 17 41 42 49 - -
Total Time: 2:43 Average: 32.60 1-5 Split: 47
6 Corning-PP 160 14 21 27 46 52 58 62
Total Time: 2:49 Average: 33.80 1-5 Split: 40
7 Genesee 174 9 15 39 55 56 60 64
Total Time: 3:04 Average: 36.80 1-5 Split: 49
8 Williamsville 200 33 34 40 43 50 51 -
Total Time: 3:31 Average: 42.20 1-5 Split: 19
9 RUSH-HENRIETTA 260 44 45 47 61 63 - -
Total Time: 4:37 Average: 55.40 1-5 Split: 21
10 Auburn 274 37 38 54 71 74 - -
Total Time: 4:51 Average: 58.20 1-5 Split: 40
Jason DeJoy Memorial Boys Seeded Varsity AA
Individuals: Fresh off a very quick win at Warwick, John Rice of Xavier is looking to be the top seed in the medium-sized school race. However, upstate's Griffin Hess of Pittsford-Mendon and Lake Shore's Calvin Butlak will have something to say about that. Rice garnered a third place finish last year, and will be looking to improve on that in 2014. Also in the mix will be Connor Lundy of Fordham Prep, rounding out the Catholic School challengers. Not to be forgotten is Ohio's Walsh Jesuit, who usually bring solid challengers, running away with the team and individual titles in years past.
Teams: A who's who of Class B talent in the state, numerous state ranked teams can be found in the mix here at McQuaid. 3 of the 5 teams listed below will need to battle it out to even get out of their own section, so count on this race to be very telling how November may play out. The addition of the CHSAA teams of Xavier and Fordham makes this race very interesting.
Pittsford-Mendon - NYS Class B #1, NYS #3
Xavier - NYS Class A #7, NYS #8
Forfham Prep - NYS Class A #10
Brighton - NYS Class B #3
Burnt Hills - NYS Class B #4
Honeoye Falls-Lima - NYS Class B #7
Sweet Home - NYS Class B #9
Out-of-State
Birchmount Park-ONT
Cathedral Prep
Dundas Valley
East Northumberland
Guelph Collegiate
Sir Winston Churchill
St.Peters Prep-NJ
Walsh Jesuit
Michael Ardison Memorial Boys Seeded Varsity A
Individuals: East Aurora's Kenny Vasbinder is the class of the field on paper. He is the only athlete to break through to the 185 level in the speed ratings. However, that doesn't mean he'll be running alone. Teammate Matt McLaughlin and Alden's Dylan Servos have the ability to be out front in the early stages of the race, pushing through the quick first mile. Dawson Bathgate of East Rochester will also be there to throw in some surges.
Teams: It looks to be East Aurora with a healthy lead in the team scoring. However, East Rochester looked surprisingly good early on, and could bring in the challenge.
East Aurora - NYS Class C #1, NYS #4
East Rochester - NYS Class D #1
Maple Grove - NYS Class D #3
Barker - NYS Class D #7
Alden - NYS Class C #13
Hannibal - NYS Class C #15