McQuaid Invitational Live Update

We'll be updating live today from Rochester New York at the 47th McQuaid Invitational.  With a field of over 6000 athletes, we'll be hosting a winners circle, where we'll have a short interview with winners of the Varsity races, as well as key invidividuals.

Races are arranged as either unseeded or seeded varsity races.  Unseeded distinguishes races that are composed of slower schools on the spectrum, while Seeded races are for the faster schools.

Girls Unseeded Varsity A-3

Winner - Liz Valento of Pavillion, NY in 18:33

Team Winner - Oakfield-Alabama, NY

What did you think of the course?

"It was definitely a little muddy throughout the course," Valento said. "I was a little nervous about slipping up the hills because of the rain, but I got over it quick, it wasn't as bad as I thought."

How would you classify your racing style?

"I am more of an individual runner.  Our school is quite small, we only have four girls on the team, but we have two that are still very quick.  I sort of wish we had more, but as of now, I race for myself."

Boys Unseeded Varsity A-3

Winner - Tom Sargent of La Fayette, NY in 16:30

Team Winner - Oakfield-Alabama, NY

How did you feel about the runner from Hamilton being so close to you the entire race?

"I think it definitely helped me," Sargent said. "He helped push me the entire way, I feel he helped my time alot.  I personally liked the course, I prefer the rolling hills"

Girls Unseeded Varsity A-2

Winner - Shannon Murphy of Falconer, NY in 18:44

Team Winner - Byron-Bergen, NY

How did you feel about the race today in these tough conditions?

"It is really cold out here today," Murphy said. " It was truly a tiring race, I can't really feel my hands right now.  I liked the course though.  Being from western New York, I am  used to these kind of hills, so I know how to truly attack them."

Boys Unseeded Varsity A-2

Winner - Jeremy Rushok of Akron, NY in 16:13

Team Winner - Hannibal, NY

You got placed 3rd last year.  This year you came out on top.  What was your strategy?

"Really, it was a close race for most of the time," Rushok said. "I had a nice kick at the end that I wasn't anticipating, so that really really helped me push at the end.  Right now, we are really focusing on qualifying for States at sectionals this year.  I think we definitely have the quality to do it.

Boys Seeded Varsity A

Winner - Cameron Bruce of Lansing, NY in 15:20

Team Winner - North East, PA

The first strong race of the day, Bruce ran neck and neck with the top runner from Oswayo Valley (PA) for the first 2 and a 1/2 miles.  Coming down the homestretch, his excellent track speed (4:19 for the mile) helped him clinch the race.

You ran a great race in some pretty bad conditions.  You performed well two week ago as well at VVS.  How do you feel your race went?

It was a good race for these kind of conditions," Bruce said. " I led for the first 800, then we started to trade back and forth.  It was a good way to prepare for states this year.  My goal is to break 16:00 on the VVS course, as  long as we have good conditions."

Girls Seeded Varsity A

Winner - Sophomore Kennedy Weisner of Elk County Catholic, PA in 17:49

Team Winner - Maple Grove, NY

How does it feel to travel to such different conditions here in upstate New York and take the win?

"It was really great," Weisner said.  "We've been coming up here for a number of years.  It is a lot colder up here, I can definitely feel the difference between here and Pennsylvania.  It was also very muddy out there in certain spots, which made it a little difficult.  My main goal for the season is to win States this year, and improve my times as best I can."

Girls Varsity AA

Winner - Danielle Martino of Burnt Hills-Balston Lake, NY in 18:01

Team Winner - Burnt Hills-Balston Lake, NY

How did you feel running at the McQuaid Invitational again this year?

We come here every year to compete, each year this meet always has great competition," Martino said.  "We came here last night and the course was still firm, but coach explained to us that after all the races before us, to expect the worst.  Out there, the mud definitely tired me out, but I feel like I still had a strong race."

Boys Unseeded Varsity AA-2

Winner - Nate Smith of Pioneer, NY in 16:03

Team Winner - Greece Athena, NY

How did you feel during the race, running against your section rivals Amherst?

"It feels good to run against Amherst, they definitely pushed me through the race," Smith said.  "I knew the course would be tough, I just didn't know what to expect.  We only have one more Invitational coming up (Pembroke) then I am going to take a few weeks off to rest up my legs for championship season."

Boys Seeded Varsity AA

Winner - Tony Hawkins of Walsh Jesuit, OH in 15:23 (Team is ranked No. 4 in Ohio)

Team Winner - Walsh Jesuit OH

What brings you all the way from Ohio to this meet?

"Coming to this meet is sort of a team tradition," Hawkins stated.  "It's nice to come out here and get a different experience.  We try all the different foods, all the different type of houses, we try to experience as much as we can.  When we get home, we are going to be focusing on doing well at our state meet.

Girls Unseeded Varsity AA-2

Winner - Karli O'Neill of Churchville-Chili, NY in 18:41

Team Winner - Webster Thomas, NY

How did you feel about your race today?

"The race was tough, the mud was very hard to push through," O'Neill said.  "I've run this race here since I was in 7th grade.   I meant to start out a lot slower than I did.  I know sometimes runners tend to start out too fast at big meets like this, so I only wanted to keep the leader in sight.  When I saw her begin to fade, that's when I made my move."

Boys Unseeded Varsity AAA-2

Winner - Travis Jordan of Gates-Chili, NY in 15:36

Team Winner - Irondequoit

How did you feel about your race.  For most of the race, you ran alongside the 6'7" runner from Lakewood, Ohio.  How was that?

"I just had to get away from him," Jordan said.  "I didn't want him to pass me even once.  I felt good for the most part, but near the end, I felt a side stitch coming on.  I knew I just had to push through it and keep my pace.  My goal for this season is to place in the top 10 at states, so this race was a good indicator of where I'm at."

Girls Seeded Varsity AAA

Winner - Laura Leff of West Genesee, NY in 17:12

Team Winner - Canandaigua

You really proved today that you are one of the top runners in the state.  How did you feel about your race today?

"I thought the race went really well," Leff said.  "I was hoping for a better time, but I realized that it was due to the conditions of the course.  I came out fast and tried to push my 2nd mile even faster, and it seemed to have worked.  As compared to last year, I am a much better runner now, but at the same time I think the state is so much deeper as well.  There's more pressure this year because I am not a freshmen this year, and I cannot make any mistakes.  Right now, I really want to break some records, and would like to get in top 5 for states this year.  I am looking forward to Manhattan next week to better see where I stand in the state"

Boys Seeded Varsity AAA

Winner - Mike Libruk of Shaker, NY in 15:26

Team Winner - Shaker

You let the two runners from Rush-Henrietta sit in front of you the whole race.  Was that part of your plan, to let them break the wind for you?

"I always like to hang back and let the leaders set the pace," Libruk said.  "I think my track speed in my kick is one of my best assets, and I think this race showed that, despite being sick for a lot of this week.  I'm very proud of my team today, we had some of our top runners out there for the first time this season.  I like to keep my personal goals to myself, but I can tell you that as a team we want to defend our title and have a great race next week at the Manhattan Invitational.  Our whole team shares responsibilities, we really don't have team captains.  We are just ready to have all of our top guys back and be the team that we are."