State of the Action:  Much like the girls' race, the States rematch was set.  Ben Petrella, the winner at Monroe-Woodbury, was back after a two week block of post-season training.  Aidan Tooker had spent that time racking up a win at the Federation meet, convincingly over the athlete who had surpassed Petrella at Manhattan.  But with that victory, comes a catch.  Many have heard of the Foot Locker Curse, most recently broken by Molly Seidel.  However, in NY, there seemed to be something starting to brew as well, called the Federation Curse.  For the past four years, the winner of the Federation Championship, would fail to make post-season Nationals in the following week(s).  Could Tooker break the curse?

The race went out, and both favorites positioned themselves at the front of the pack.  What they didn't expect, was to have someone take off on them that early.  Bryan Geehrer of Fayetteville-Manlius, who was first man out from qualifying from the Section 3 Sectionals race, exploded past.  He grew a lead that caused disruption in the field.  At 1-mile, he had created a 15m gap on the field.  If anyone was going to challenge, that had to close.  Tooker and Petrella began to encroach on the lead.  Keeping a strong eye not to over-exert themselves to what surely would be a downhill sprint, they came flush with Geehrer at halfway.  Then came the downhills, and the race was on.  Petrella made the first move, and Tooker responded.  As with Woodbury, Petrella's power up the hills, and cruise down opened up a gap on Tooker.  However, this time, Tooker was able to respond, and went with the West Point-bound senior from Liverpool.  The two launched down the hills, back across the road, and straight towards the 2-mile.  Petrella would grab a peak behind him on the 90-degree turns, gaging his lead as he powered downhill.  The lead grew, not from a lack of trying from second, and Petrella began to power through the course.  On the final stretch, he had made clear of the competition, and the clock put him in contention for a course record.  Down the straightaway he came, across the line just short, however managing #3 All-Time on the storied Bowdoin Course.  Tooker would come across second, snapping the Federation Curse, and making it a Saratoga runner up sweep.

The leaders begin to settle in, slowing the race down

Bryan Geehrer opens up the race through the early stages

The favorites check their pace at 1.25, waiting for the time to surge forward

Ben Petrella emerges clear from the backhills, Tooker right on his tail

Petrella expands the gap, but Tooker stays within reach

A final surge pushes Petrella clear of the competition, for the win.