Two weeks after Syracuse picked up their first commit of the season in Nathan Lawler, fellow New Yorker Silas Derfel (Ithaca) has also committed to Syracuse University. Derfel is also a returning NXN Qualifier from 2016, and is currently the fastest rated XC runner in the State, buoyed by his win at McQuaid. For more on the Syracuse recruitment history, read below.
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For the past three years, one of New York's top runners has opted to head to Syracuse. In 2015, senior Aidan Tooker (Saratoga) committed before breaking the course record for a Queensbury course that had held the state meet numerous times. Then, later that year, then-New Yorker Noah Affolder (Carthage), a junior at the time, verbally committed to the Orangemen, forgoing any other official visits his senior year. Finally, Syracuse added Stevie Schulz (Liverpool) in 2016, after a strong 3rd place showing at the NY Regional for NXN.
The Syracuse Orangemen won the NCAA Cross Country title in 2015 over the much favored Colorado, then came back in 2016 with a 3rd place finish. They return Top 20 finishers in Justyn Knight and Collin Bennie, and are primed for another strong year.
On the track, Tooker had a strong year in the Steeplechase, making it to the NCAA Championships as a freshman. Many top New Yorkers have passed through the program, including Steve Murdock (Saratoga), Nick Ryan (Fayetteville-Manlius) and Martin Hehir (Washingtonville). Philo Germano (Albany), Mickey Burke (Rush-Henrietta), and TJ Hornberger (Lake Shore) are all former HS State Champions and All-State athletes from New York on the SU Roster.
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