54th McQuaid To Be One Of The Fastest Ever Run - Full Recap

Boys AAA

Breakdown: It may have been the closest finish in Meet History.  The race went out blistering fast, crushing the first mile in under 4:45.  Three runners emerged as title contenders, led by Tyler Berg.  He's emerged as his team's frontrunner, with Evan Brennan right behind.  Splitting the duo was another Section 2 name, Shea Weilbaker, who is the reigning Indoor and Outdoor 3200m State Champ.  With 800m to go, Berg had broken the field, and was even with Noah Affolder's course record pace.  However, there began a fade, which would allow Weilbaker to get even with 60m to go.  Yet, Berg was able to respond to the threat, pushing back.  In tandem, the pair crossed the line, Berg getting the advantage over a lean from Weilbaker.  Both athletes now reside in the Top 10 Times ever run at the meet.

Teams

Breakdown: Burnt Hills came in as the 5th ranked team in the country.  And yet, there was some concern.  Their #1 had run strained the week before at the Baldwinsville Invite.  Aidan Gillooley, whose Speed Rating from the year before would have had him in contention to win the race outright, would fall to 50th place, clutching a hamstring across the finish.  And yet, even with his return, it would not have been enough to handle the performance Dana Hills brought over from California.

Dana Hills had run easy efforts earlier in the year, only starting to show their potential at their home meet the week before.  They had the legacy, placing on the podium at NXN in 2015, plus the fire power.  They went out hard from the gun, and never let go of the pace.  Their compression was thirty seconds, with no individual placing worse than 20th.  Even then, take out any two athletes from their team, and they still win the title. Their team average stacks up well with 5-Man Average Course Record Holders Fayetteville-Manlius, who went on to win a National Title.  The course ran faster in 2018, but it still indicates a team that could go back to California, and win a State Title, and then some.  A big theme for them was to seek out a top team in the country, and run without excuses.  Donning spikes for the first time in XC, and after a plane ride and time change, Dana Hills came out and represented.

Also interesting was the rise of Smithtown.  A superior compression to Dana Hills, they overcame an 8-hour bus ride to run against some of the best in the State.  They move to become a real danger for a State Title, especially with the State Meet 3 miles from their school.

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