Following Week of Saturday, October 15
The fifth week of the NY rankings gave much of the state a chance to inhale after two weekends anchored by first the giant McQuaid and then Manhattan meets. But that doesn't mean there wasn't a lot going on for the ides of October. In state, the Burnt Hills meet had a big contingent of teams battling in big contests at the large, medium and small level, and out-of-state the Brown University Invitational attracted a respectable sized bunch of NY teams to travel and excel. Out west the Alden Bulldog meet was the scene of some top action for many smaller schools. The Section 1 Coaches Invite also had a big crowd, though it was more of a mid season leg-stretcher and course preview for the teams involved, as all but one saw their speed ratings fall backward from recent elite action. The Spartan Waterfront, Tully, Vernon-Verona-Sherril, Nassau Coaches, Newark Valley, and NYC Cross Country Carnival also had some say in the rankings.
Again, many teams were running JV or partial squads or resting their top runner during last weekend before the postseason grinder begins, and those decisions are factored into the rankings. Teams that went to Burnt Hills and Brown were generally more intent on pushing the limits, and their speed ratings tended to journey upward. One change in the top spot for a class happened after a reigning champ unleashed its fully fledged 2016 version.
Cheers to all as we head to a big wave of county meets during the next two weekends.
