Lightning Strikes Twice For Course Record Holders at McQuaid Invite - Full Meet Recap

Girls Seeded AAA Individual

Notes: While the goal may have been downplayed in the pre-meet conversations, as the gun went off, it was clear that Jessica Lawson (Corning) wanted her course record back.  She had set the mark as a sophomore in 2014, only to lose it the year after.  In an effort to prove this is not only the best season of her career, as well as to make up for last year's third place performance, Lawson was hammering.  She came through the mile in 5:19, with the company being thinned out to only three.  Amanda Vestri (Webster Thomas) did her best to keep up, as Anna Kostarellis (Churchville-Chili) also rode the pace to a strong race.  Rounding out the top pack would be Sammy Watson (Rush-Henrietta), who would fade in the latter portions of the race.

But this race was Lawson's through and through.  Powering through the grove, she heard the splits over the loudspeaker.  10:55 through two miles, and she was well under record pace.  The crowd only motivated her through the net-downhill of the last mile of the course.  With 400m to go, it was going to be close, but she never let go of the throttle.  As the clock ticked away, she grew ever closer, and crossed the line with plenty of time to spare.  She had knocked off 7-secs on the course record.  Not bad for a race that almost didn't happen.

Lawson had been taking the SAT's that same morning.  She had a four hour test, then a one and half hour car-ride immediately after to zap the energy out of her legs.  Any type of traffic or car troubles, and she wouldn't be able to make the starting line.  But determination couldn't be stopped, as Lawson went on to bring the course's greatest mark yet, toppling last year's mark that required a strong head-to-head race to produce. 

Girls Seeded AAA Team

Notes: While Lawson had the duty of racing up front, her team did their job behind her.  Putting two more girls at 11th or better pushed the race in their favor, but it was far from a slam dunk. NY #10 Niskayuna almost upset the rankings by closing in on NY #4 Corning.  The race by Lawson throws Corning's compression out the window, but a rough race from Corning's 4th the week before, brought the scores close.  However, Corning managed to complete the team sweep with a 16-point victory.