#9 - Saratogan State Champs
In running, timing is everything. You can be ever improving, better than any year before, and then still, along comes a once in a generation talent to rival your own. No program understands that quite like Saratoga, and no athlete better than Kelsey Chmiel. Saratoga, during the 80's, 90's, and early 2000's, was much the best team in the Country. Numerous times ranked US #1 in the Harrier Rankings (de facto National Title pre-NXN), as well as taking home fourteen XC Team State Titles since the Kranick's took over the program in 1987. However, since 2007, they've taken home ten straight silver medals, as 2006 marked the beginning of the reign of the Fayetteville-Manlius Girls. Any other State, and Saratoga would have an increase in State Titles that could have reached double digits.
For Kelsey Chmiel, the story would be eerily similar. As an underclassmen, she would place highly behind the Veterans of the State. Along the way, she would set Class State Records in all the distance events both Indoors and Out, a good indicator for XC performance. En route to winning a State Title her Sophomore year at Chenango Valley, Chmiel had had an Speed Rating Improvement Curve unrivaled before her, topping 155 as a freshman, bumping to 157 as a Soph, hitting 160 as a Junior, and then three marks over 162 as a Senior. In fact, Chmiel would finish as the 6th highest Speed Rated Athlete Ever, to hail from New York. Typically, this would indicate future success, but just like in 2006, a once in a generation talent arose. Chmiel would take 2nd at NXN twice in a row, averaging 10-seconds ahead of the rest of the field. One of the most talented runners in State History, over a period of five years, with four State Titles to her resume. But it would be that last one, that would make for Moment #9 of the Year.
2019 was set to be a redemption year. The year prior, Shenendehowa knocked them out of the state Meet by winning Sectionals, the first State Meet Saratoga would miss since 2001. Also, for the first time ever, Saratoga relied on an At-Large to gain entry to Nike Cross Nationals. They justified their selection by finishing well out West, but were not looking to rely on the opinions of others to make it to the big show. They had a talented team, led by none other than Chmiel, as well as adding their tradition slew of newcomers. Not only that, they could also see Manlius would be in a rebuilding year, fighting for a berth to States in their own Section. Opportunity was knocking.
The Season kicked off, and Saratoga debuted early. At the Great Meadow Invite, Chmiel dropped a 162 Speed Rating, one of her best ever, indicating Senior Year, there would be no slowing down. Behind her, the team was still developing. A newcomer, Ella Kurto, established herself as the team's #2, but there was uncertainty behind that. After returning to SPAC, Saratoga would reemerge at Great American. Again, Kelsey would win the race by a large margin, Kurto a strong #2, and then some switching three through five. They were clearly getting better, but to win against the reigning 12-time State Champs FM, they would need to get better, especially against a team known to peak in post-season. Another month would go by before a major race, aided by the cancellation of Suburbans, before Saratoga would race again. The limited race schedule was a change from prior years, where racing would be more frequent.
It was now Sectionals weekend, and Saratoga was ready to make the post-season push. It was a year ago that they would take home third here, so they would surely be running at full effort. They put together their best effort of the season so-far, with big improvements at every position. They solidify their position as favorite heading in to the State Meet, with a healthy margin of error. One Section over, the reigning State Champs, Manlius, edge NY #2 Liverpool by one point to make the State Meet, and set up the usual duel once again.
With States at Sunken Meadow, the course was sure to be a shock to some. Up front, Chmiel did what she could to stay with Tuohy, ultimately finishing closer to the North Rockland star than anyone else had in the previous two years, on an XC course. Behind Chmiel, Kurto had another breakout race, finishing 6th overall, 4th in team scoring. Behind them, however, things got murky. Both Manlius and Saratoga had 3-4-5's deep in the pack of runners. Coming across the line, it was too close to call. The scores were tallied. Coming into the race, TullyRunners predicted it would be a one-point margin of victory, and with the final scores revealed, the premonition came true. Saratoga had won by one point, 46 to 47. They were the first new Team State Champs in Class A in thirteen years, making for Moment #9 of the Season, a fitting senior sendoff for Chmiel as well.