What boys are at the top of the class of 2019? First find out who the first five runners who made this list, and then you'll see why these five have a slight edge over the rest of their sophomore competition. Each of these top boys have proven their place on this with their performances on and off the track their freshman year but now that they are strictly running the varsity courses this year, we look to see which athletes are going to be going the extra mile to get them to the next level of competition.
Aidan Gillooley returns as Burnt Hills' top scorer from last years' state meet where he placed in the top 40. Aidan showed huge growth from moving up into high school as his 3.04 mile time dropped to consistently around 16 minute with a season best at 15:56, and hit a new all-time best speed rating at 169. Going into this cross country season, Aidan will bring his experience from running at state and national meets which should help bring the Burnt Hills team back to the state meet this November and take victories where they fell short last year. Gillooley ran a strong 164 speed rating at the Guilderland Invitational to start off the year.
4: Alex Hislop - Shenendehowa Class A
Hislop ran solid times a year ago during XC, with a top speed rating of 152, but he picked it up in outdoor track. His prs of 4:38 and 9:52 put him right up with many of the incoming sophomores. Bill Meylan's charts from 2007 indicate that a 9:52 can roughly predict a 173 speed rating, which would be a large jump. Since then, though, the average runner has improved, lowering the speed ratings for similar times. Nonetheless, look for Hislop to help an improving Shenendehowa squad. Alex ran a 167 to open up with his Shen teammates at Guilderland.
3: Tyler Berg - BHBL Class B
As the top returning runner for the Burnt Hills team, Tyler Berg comes in with a season best 3.04 mile of 15:50; improving by over a minute from last year and running this just mid-season. Tyler did not compete in the post season due to injury but ran new prs in both the 1600 (4:35) and 3200 (9:58) during outdoor track which should help carry him into the post season this year. Berg hit a 171 speed rating by mid-season, which, on improvement, should help give Burnt Hills a strong fight against state champ reigning team Pittsford Mendon come state meet in November. Tyler, like his teammates Evan and Aidan, ran a 164 speed rating this past weekend.
2: Shea Weilbaker - Saratoga Class A
Shea Weilbaker dropped impressive times this past track season, running a 4:38 full mile indoors before running a 9:38 3200m outdoors at the Eddy Meet. His previous school did not have a Cross Country team, and his lone XC result was this past year at the NXN New York regional where he ran 17:32 for the 5000 meter race. Shea now joins a strong Saratoga squad with high goals. He led the team at their first dual meet on September 6th with a time of 16:24 at SPAC. Look for Shea to continue to make large jumps in fitness as he transitions to a different training situation.
1: Noah Tindale - Guilderland Class A
Noah Tindale has become a recognizable name with the state records he has taken down and the Noah and Noah Guilderland show take over in Section 2 that we have seen for the past few years. Last cross country season, Tindale laid down multiple sub 16 minute showings on a variety of 3 mile courses with a season pr of 15:42. Noah has burst through many milestones on the track as he has broken records again and again in the 800 and 1600. The speed that Tindale has will translate over into the cross country season over the last mile which will give him an edge over nearby competitors. Watch for Noah this season at the front of the races as he could make a push for his first cross country state meet. Noah ran a strong 15:21 at his home invitational for a 175 speed rating to open his season.