The Showdown:

Much like the Class A race, this should be a very exciting individual race to watch.  Noah Affolder (profiled here), comes in as the favorite, which would have been a shock to hear if that statement was made in August.  That's because Luke Gavigan was coming off one of the greatest junior track campaigns in State history, undefeated at the State level.  Even better yet, Gavigan enters this State Meet undefeated as well, never expending more energy than was needed.  Affolder returns the favor by being undefeated as well.  While Gavigan may not be as strong on the terrain than he is on the track, if he is within striking distance at the baseball diamond, watch out.  Affolder has created a strong lead all season, able to maintain.

The Challengers:

Two athletes, while not undefeated, provide a very realistic threat to the title.  Dan Schaffer's only loss to a Class B athlete this season came from Affolder himself, at the Marathon Invite.  Kobie Lane was undefeated as well, before taking a loss to Aidan Doyle, who is also in the mix.  Lane would avenge the loss at the qualifier.  All three have the potential to be in the mix for the lead, with an ax to grind with the leaders.

1   Noah Affolder         10   03-B    Carthage               190
2   Dan Schaffer          11   04-B    Maine-Endwell          187
3   Luke Gavigan          12   01-B    Tappan Zee             184
4   Kobie Lane            12   09-B    Port Jervis            183
5   Liam Burke            12   01-B    Tappan Zee             181
6   Peter Rindfuss        11   06-B    Hamburg                180
7   Mitchell Daddario     12   06-B    Sweet Home             179
8   Christopher Nowak     10   06-B    Sweet Home             179
9   Tim Josephs           12   08-B    Garden City            178
10  Aidan Doyle           12   09-B    Cornwall               177
11  Calvin Butlak         12   06-B    Lake Shore             177
12  Ben McDermott         12   01-B    Pearl River            177
13  Kevin Hazelwood       11   01-B    Brewster               177
14  Jack Ryan             11   01-B    Rye                    176
15  Matt Baffuto          12   01-B    Pelham                 176

State of the Action: Exactly one year after winning a state title, the boys of Pittsford-Mendon are well on their way to pull the repeat.  Much like the gap of scores in Class A, Mendon set themselves apart with a strong showing a Sectionals.  This was the same team that was able to split the CHSAA dominance at McQuaid, running well above classification.   Behind them, its a coin toss.  Tappan Zee is playing the front runner game, while Bayport's back four have a strong compression.  Bayport's scores are more likely to fluctuate (A low number is easy to predict, the middle numbers are the ones that can shift rapidly).  Their is a minor yet not insurmountable gap between teams 3 and 4, who could see the scoring go either way.  Sweet Home again is more up front, while Cornwall will be expecting a high finish from Doyle.

                       Varsity Boys 5000 Meter Run Team Scores                       
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    Team                        Pts     1    2    3    4    5   (6)  (7)
=====================================================================================
  1 Pittsford Mendon            55      7   10   11   12   15   19   20  
      Total Time: 55      Average: 11.00      1-5 Split: 8
  2 Bayport/Bluepoint           116     9   21   25   26   35   38   46  
      Total Time: 1:56      Average: 23.20      1-5 Split: 26
  3 Tappan Zee                  119     3    5   13   44   54   60   63  
      Total Time: 1:59      Average: 23.80      1-5 Split: 51
  4 Sweet Home                  130     4    6   30   37   53   62    -  
      Total Time: 2:10      Average: 26.00      1-5 Split: 49
  5 Cornwall                    134    14   27   29   31   33   57   65  
      Total Time: 2:14      Average: 26.80      1-5 Split: 19
  6 Burnt Hills-                142    17   22   24   39   40   47   52  
      Total Time: 2:22      Average: 28.40      1-5 Split: 23
  7 Maine Endwell               164     2   23   34   49   56   64   69  
      Total Time: 2:44      Average: 32.80      1-5 Split: 54
  8 Carthage                    167     1    8   48   51   59   71   72  
      Total Time: 2:47      Average: 33.40      1-5 Split: 58
  9 Manhasset                   180    18   28   36   43   55   58   67  
      Total Time: 3:00      Average: 36.00      1-5 Split: 37
 10 Malone                      200    16   32   41   50   61   66   68  
      Total Time: 3:20      Average: 40.00      1-5 Split: 45
 11 Peru                        304    42   45   70   73   74   75   76  
      Total Time: 5:04      Average: 1:00.80      1-5 Split: 32