Manhattan College Boys Easterns States Preview

Oct 07, 2008

For years boys fans at The Manhattan College Invitational have felt cheated. The girls Eastern States has been held for a long time, with one huge, deep race deciding bragging rights while the boys talent was spread out over 7 races. This year will be different. For the first time ever the Boys Eastern States meet will be run at this meet instead of the following weekend. ArmoryTrack.com and the milesplit team has broken it down for you, with state and regional rankings, top runners, team uniform colors, and pictures. With NXN and Footlocker qualifying meets only 6 weeks away, the implications of this race will be felt for the rest of the year. So get ready for magic, and weather permitting, perhaps a new VCP 2.5 record.
teams listed in starting box order
Shenendehowa, NY	NYS#1 Green with white
Top guy last week was Warwick Valley transfer Alex Leuchanka but with Dan Harris, Brian Trainer, Mike Danaher, and Jaime Glover, this team looks poised for greatness. They won the Grout Run last weekend, which was the first time they stacked out this season. 5th man might be around 13:15 - just a guess.
Don Bosco, NJ	NJ#2, NE#3 Marroon and white
They won the Xavier Invitational at VCP in September without a few guys in the race. The went to NTN last year and are favored to go again.
Morris Hills, NJ	NJ#5, NE#6 Red and White
Currently ranked as one of the top teams in the Northeast this powerful NJ squad is paced by Sean Pohorence, Liam Tansey, Tyler Hendrickson, Vincent Chiusano and Lucas Clyne. Placed third in the Bowdoin Park Classic in a quality field. Last spring on the track this team posted a dazzling 10:08.46 DMR with all juniors! 2.5 at VCP may benefit them. Need a big effort by Liam Tansy.
Oakton, VA	SE#4 maroon/burgundy with Oakton in gold lettering
Oakton won the Wendy's Invite last weekend on the home course for Foot Locker South at McAlpine with a swift top four of 5K times ranging from 16:03 to 16:15. Ran without one of their top runners in the race, so at full strength should be a very formidable squad at Vanny. Last year at Manhattan, Oakton finished 2nd in the Varsity B race and 15 points behind then US #1 Danbury of CT. Oakton is currently ranked #4 in the Southeast region.
Danbury, CT	NE#5 Orange and Blue
Danbury has been one of the best programs in the country for years now, with numerous all americans and a trip to NTN. They won their race here at Manhattan last year when they were ranked US#1. They won the Manchester Invitational this season over a a very strong New England field.
Haddonfield, NJ	NJ#3, NE#8 Black and White
Top Runner – Jon “Boo” Vitez: Won E Race @ Sore Coaches in 16:05. Haddonfield is the best unpublicized team in NJ. Boasting the best underclass in the state. They won their Shore Coaches race with 16:53 avg. Usual #2/3 man Colin Baker cramped and did not figure in scoring.
Holy Ghost Prep, PA	PA#7 blue Shorts, white and blue tops
8th at Carlisle Invitational in deep field with 17:06 average.
Fayetteville-Manlius, NY	NY#5 Green
They shattered the top 5 record at Vanny in 2004 when they were 2nd at NTN as they became the first team to ever put 5 guys under 13:00 on the same day. This year they were 2nd to Burnt Hills at McQuaid as this young group comes into their own. Led by junior Alex Hatz, this team might be a year away from true greatness but they are still dangerous.
Queensbury, NY	NY#9 Blue and Yellow with lage "Q"
Always a tough team here in NY, Queensbury and Burnt Hills have been trading NYS class A titles for years.
Balwdinsville, NY	NY HM-AA
A nice team from upstate NY, B-Ville came out of the gates hard before a slight let down last week. Led by Shaun Thompson who ran 15:58 at Chitttenango.
Great Oak, CA	red, white, black
Led by Kyle Dickerson and Karson Fronk, this team is not ranked in DI in California.
Brookwood, GA	GA#1, SE#2 maroon and white
They won the Gwinett County Champs with 6 guys from 16:01 to 16:41 on the 5K course so look for a good, tight pack. Tyler Anyan was the top runner last week but that may change with this group.
Jamestown, VA	VA#1, SE#1 black with Jamestown in green lettering on the singlet.
Jamestown won the Maymont Festival two weeks ago in impressive fashion with 3 runners in the top 10 in a loaded field of individual stars. Their top runner is Andrew Colley, a VA 2A state runner-up last fall in cross country and has a 9:09 best for 3200 meters. Colley should be an individual contender in his race as he ran the 3rd fastest time ever at the William & Mary Invite last month with a 14:47 performance on the 3.05 mile course. The Eagles are currently ranked #1 in the entire Southeast region.
Atlee. VA	SE - HM black shorts and navy blue tops with Atlee in white
Atlee boys were ranked #9 in the Southeast earlier this season after their victory at the Brentsville Relays. They fell out of the rankings after competing at the Oatlands Invite without their top runner Ben Dejarnette, who ironically at the time was on an official visit to Iona that weekend and got a chance to preview the course at Van Courtland that weekend. Dejarnette is a definite Foot Locker contender after winning the Maymont Festival two weeks ago against a loaded field including Jamestown's Colley. Dejarnette was a state champion indoors at 3200 meters and state runner-up in the spring for both 1600 and 3200. His team should be have a respectable showing, but Jamestown and Oakton are the two teams to really look out for from Virginia at Manhattan this weekend.
West Windsor Plainsboro North, NJ	NJ#2, NE#2 Med. Blue / White
Top Runner – Joe Rosa: Ran 15:38 at Holmdel, winning ties the #9 AT mark and he’s only a Soph. As a team, WW-P No. is only going to get better. With Joe’s twin brother getting back into the mix after injury (#2 man on Sat) they are a serious contender here and for the NJ All Groups win.
Suffern, NY	NY#6 Blue with white letters
The Mounties have their best team since 1999 when they won the NYS Federation title. Led by Mike Pereira, this team's order changes every week. If they all put together good races on the same day, they will finish well.
Brookline, MA	MA#10 DI Blue Shorts, White tops
Brookline returns three of their team that placed 7th at NTN's last fall. They are led by David Wilson who was 3rd at NTN Regionals last year, running 16:16 at Bowdoin Park. Wilson also led the team at nationals with a 7th place finish.
Christian Brothers Academy, NJ	NJ#3, NE#1 Navy/White
The Colts out of Lincroft, NJ coached by the legendary Tom Heath will be force in this race. They had a huge win at the Bowdoin Park Classic back in September as they out ran Shenendehowa (who was down two top men that day) and in-state rival Morris Hills. The team is paced by Mike Mazzaccaro, Dan Mykityshyn, Dan Bailey, Denis Smith and Brendan Swan. CBA has a rich tradition of excellence over the xc trails and had been one of the top Northeast and National programs for years. They took the A Race at Shore Coaches on 10/4. Spread at Holmdel was 40 sec. Never count these guys out.
Colts Neck, NJ	HM - NE Blue/Green with CN
Top Runner – Mark Leinenger : Was 2nd at BCP (16:21) - This team is an unknown factor. Lots of potential and very well coached.
Mendham, NJ	NJ#8, HM - NE Blue and white
Top Runner – Mike Franklin: Ran 15:52 to win Roxbury Invite. Another dark horse on the NJ scene. Very Good #1 in Franklin. Solid at 2 thru 4. #5 could hurt in a race w/ big numbers like Easterns.
West Windsor Plainsboro South, NJ	Yellow top, green shorts
Lead Runner - Kevin Foy: A "take no prisoners" competitor leads a very scrappy team. Overall WW-P So. is young (5 of 7 are underclassmen) and hungry. May not win, but will make some noise.
Bishop Hendricken, RI	HM - NE green shorts, white and green tops, gold trim
Always a tough team, Bishop Hendricken has some serious history here at Vanny and they just had to be in the big race.
Germantown Friends, PA	PA#9, HM - NE Orange with blue or Blue with orange
Ran well early at the Bowdoin Park Classic in NY placing fourth in a deep field. Did not race well at Paul Short and are looking for redemption. This program won the Championship of America in the DMR at the Penn Relays last spring but graduated their top gun Max Kaulbach who is now at Princeton.
Cicero North Syracuse, NY	NY#16-AA Green and blue
Led by Chris Buchanan, who ran 16:18 at Tully last weelend, CNS is always a tough team out of Section 3 in upstate, NY.
Ithaca, NY	NY HM-AA Maroon and white, large "I"
Led by Andris Goncarovs and Sharif Younes, Ithaca is a perennial power for the Finger Lakes Region of NY.
Liverpool, NY	NY#20-AA Orange with white, large blue "L"
Led by Colin Savage (left) and Alex Wilke, also a perennial upstate power.
Monsignor Farrell, NY	NY#10 yellow shorts, white shirts with yellow trim, maroon print.
Placed 7th at the Nike Pre-National on Portland, OR two weeks ago, Farrell has been a top team in the country for a while now. They were young last year but seem to be coming into their own now. They are ranked 10th in NY, but don'd be surprised to see them move up after this race. Paced by Alex Orlando this team had an 18 second compression at the Bowdoin Park Classic.
Northport, NY	NY#19-AA White top with Gold "N" or Navy Blue with white "N"
Evan Bloomberg leads this team that raced last week at Paul Short in PA.
McKee/Staten Island Tech, NY	NY#11 Black and white
The 2nd ranked NYC team and top ranked NYC PSAL team, Chris Brancale leads this group that is ranked very high in NYS for a PSAL team.
Oliver Ames, MA	MA#6 DII
A top program in the smaller school's section in Mass.
St. John's, MA	MA#5 DI
A top program in the larger school's section in Mass.
Archbishop Spalding, MD

For years boys fans at The Manhattan College Invitational have felt cheated. The girls Eastern States has been held for a long time, with one huge, deep race deciding bragging rights while the boys talent was spread out over 7 races.

This year will be different. For the first time ever the Boys Eastern States meet will be run at this meet instead of the following weekend. ArmoryTrack.com and the milesplit team has broken it down for you, with state and regional rankings, top runners, team uniform colors, and pictures.