State of the Action: There had been some unfinished business left on the table from the New York State Meet.  Two athletes shot from the gun at Monroe-Woodbury, exhausting each other in the process.  At Regionals, the two would face off, both more experienced, and bringing the allure of lower team points to the table.  Once again, Kaitlyn Neal and Kelsey Chmiel (pronounced Ka-Meal) shot to the front of the pack, both determined to surge for the lead.  While the pace was more relaxed, the desired for the lead hadn't changed.  The two fought stride for stride through the first mile.  Neal began to see a minor opening, and pushed the duel to a single file affair.  Chmiel, nipping at her heels, followed closely as the pair approached the 1.5 mark, notable for having the steepest hill before the ultimate decline.  Neal's strength on the hills prevailed, and she opened up a small gap.  Across the road a final time, heading towards 2-miles, Neal began to grow an established gap.  Chasing the pace cart, Neal never let up the pace, throwing surges into her stride despite being void of close competition.  Into the finishing stretch, she pushed through the line, putting together the fastest performance on the course since 2010, and grabbing #3 All-Time on the historic course.  Kelsey Chmiel pushed in behind Neal, coming away with a special accolade of her own.  Her mark breaks the second oldest course record on the books, taking down Erin Davis' (Saratoga 93') freshman course record.  The only record older is Davis' own freshman record at VCP on the Manhattan layout.  A fine effort in second, 7th fastest individual of All-Time.

It was a strong pack early

Two frontrunners broke away quickly

Kaitlyn Neal gains advantage at the 1.25 mark

Neal emerges from the backhills with a strong lead

Neal comes across the line as the regional champion.

Kelsey Chmiel sets the Freshman Course Record