Ryan Erases Ryan For Course Record ; It Was 'Toga's "Time"
Individual
It was all about senior Nick Ryan (Fayetteville-Manlius) on this speed-friendly course. By the first mile, he had already created an impressive lead on some of the best talent in the state, and would maintain that through the rolling hills of Elma Meadows. Crossing the line, Ryan would break the course record set by fellow Section 3'er Ryan Manahan, and lower the record to a strong 15:07.9. Behind him by more than 20 seconds, an impressive battle was being waged by upstate junior Mickey Burke and downstate senior Eric Holt, where they would finish in that respective order. Ryan's sophomore teammate Bryce Millar would take 4th, while Holt's sophomore teammate Ben Muniz would take 5th.
Team
A total nail-biter for all those waiting for the results. FM had a strong top two, scoring low points. Northport had been a clear leader one mile into the race. But when Saratoga's fifth man came in one place and one second ahead of FM's third, 'toga's tight compression would be the clincher. For the second year in a row, the state championship in the toughest race of the day was decided by one point, in favor of the Saratoga boys this time. A tight race that should be even tighter, if a rematch is to be had at Nike Regionals.
1. 57 Saratoga Springs (16:08.4 80:41.7 0:17.7) 2. 58 Fayetteville-Manlius (15:56.4 79:41.9 1:11.2) 3. 78 Northport (16:17.7 81:28.5 0:41.2) 4. 113 Arlington (16:31.0 82:34.9 1:08.0) 5. 119 Warwick Valley (16:29.8 82:28.7 0:18.6)
Manahan Can ; No Doubt these Boys are Good
Individual
Ryan Manahan (Marcellus) and TJ Hornberger (Lake Shore) had met on race day before. Earlier in the year, they faced off in a McQuaid letter race, where Manahan would get the edge. This time, they were not essentially alone on the course. Through the first mile, the pair of standouts found themselves surrounded by runners who were ready to take the race out equally as fast. That motivation spurred the duo to push early, in order to separate. On the last 400m stretch, Manahan would power to the line and create a gap over Hornberger. Finishing in 15:30.6, Manahan would take the title, and set a then-course record.
Team
That pack that was pushing Manahan and Hornberger early? Two of them were the front runners for Section 2's Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons. A team that has attacked each race this year as a pack, repeated their efforts at Elma Meadows, securing their win over a very strong East Aurora,
1. 63 Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons (16:29.7 82:28.3 0:59.7) 2. 84 East Aurora (16:40.2 83:21.0 0:31.7) 3. 89 Pittsford Mendon (16:42.2 83:30.8 0:57.8) 4. 126 Franklin Academy (16:56.8 84:43.9 1:15.4) 5. 127 Tappan Zee (16:57.3 84:46.5 1:51.6) 6. 128 Maine Endwell (16:56.9 84:44.5 1:29.9)
Fifteen Forty For First ; From Pawling To Podium
Individual
Jeffrey Antolos (Notre Dame-Batavia) was a favorite for the race, before it even began. Running very quickly all season, he has been hard pressed to find competition in his class in his neck of the woods. The reason why became clear, as at the first mile mark, Antolos appeared over the hill alone, and would cruise about 75m before another group of runners popped over the hill. Antolos would have the largest winning margin of the day, winning in 15:41.5. But the battle behind him was not over. Stephen Shine (Briarcliff) was busy battling a runner he faced at Sectionals, in Matt Jorgensen (Pawling). Known for his late race kick, Shine turned on the after burners in the last stretching, taking the silver.
Team
Jorgensen's speedy time would not be in vain. A bronze in the individual race gave his team the gold in team scoring. Matt was the first place finisher in the team scoring division, and led his team to a strong finish over a strong Fonda-Fultonville.
1. 42 Pawling (16:57.9 84:49.3 1:28.0) 2. 66 Fonda-Fultonville (17:12.8 86:03.8 1:20.5) 3. 117 Hannibal (17:44.2 88:41.0 0:55.4) 4. 124 Alden (17:46.6 88:52.8 2:08.3) 5. 145 Trumansburg (17:55.3 89:36.3 2:15.4)
Rodriguez' Redemption Run ; A New Plaque to 'Mount'
Individual
Gabe Rodriguez (Geneseo) knew the truth about rankings: They mean nothing on race day. Last year, Rodriguez was top ranked going into the states race, but a serious of incidents prevented him from the win. Not this year. Leaving nothing to chance, Rodriguez pushed the pace early, along with Alex Campanella (Eldred). The race would begin to separate in the backhills, and Gabe would separate with it, putting a lead over the trailing two runners. He held that lead to the line, to win in 15:59.9.
Team
There's a first time for everything. After a couple of road races, the Mount Academy boys began to notice they were doing quite well with running. Deciding to create a team, they have been taking the Class D scene by storm, running well above their class level, despite being very low on the enrollment numbers for the classification. Barker didn't make the road to the title any easier for the newcomers, putting a very strong race together. But Mount Academy would take the team scoring by 15 points, to secure their first state title in their first year.
1. 54 Mount Academy (17:16.9 86:24.4 1:25.9) 2. 69 Barker (17:31.5 87:37.4 1:09.0) 3. 86 Beaver River (17:41.1 88:25.1 1:15.1) 4. 114 Greenwich (17:52.6 89:22.8 3:25.6) 5. 114 Ticonderoga (18:01.4 90:06.6 1:29.8)