#8 - Parker Stokes Lays Claim To The NXN Regional Title
Many years, the top athletes in the State all hail from Class, otherwise known as the largest schools in the State. Not so in 2019, which saw an even distribution through both Class A, as well as one down in Class B. So unlike most years, the top athletes in the State wouldn't see each other until their post-season dreams were on the line, in the one meet that brings together the state for one final race, Regionals.
Throughout 2019, only three athletes managed to break a 190 Speed Rating, which automatically puts them in contention for the top Harrier in the State. Shea Weilbaker (Saratoga) and Tyler Berg (Burnt Hills) both ran out of Section 2, but the pair ran for different classes. Parker Stokes (Maine-Endwell) was over in Section 2, but being Class B, would find Tyler Berg at States. The three wouldn't match up head-to-head-to-head until Regionals, but their were some early fireworks proving it would be a hard-fought battle.
All three athletes were at the McQuaid Invite. Stokes, because of his Class B designation, ran in the AA Race, and with it very early in his progression, took second to a Canadian athlete. However, Burnt Hills asked to be bumped up to the larger division more so for the team challenge, but it was also mean frontrunner Berg would face off against Weilbaker. The pair lived up to their pre-meet billing, staying stride for stride through much of the race. Down the finish chute they went, with Berg getting the win on a near dive, less than a second separating them. On any day, it could have gone either way, and the definitive favorite for best in the state was still up for debate.
Weilbaker and Berg wouldn't see each other in a Championship setting again until Sectionals, and even then, they were in separate races. It didn't stop either from going all out, as they both dropped Top-20 Marks, albeit not their best at SPAC. Stokes safely qualified back near Binghamton, putting out his own 190 Speed Rating indicating he was ready for States. At Sunken Meadow, it was now Stokes and Berg who would do battle. Berg would take out to a hearty lead, but Stokes and Ryan Guerci (Nanuet) would stay close behind. Stokes saw the danger of that lead being insurmountable, and began to close the gap with a mile to go, but Berg had too much distance already. The BH athlete would take the win in 15:52, with Stokes at 15:57, the first of three of their matchups. For good measure, Weilbaker would win the Class A race in 15:52 as well, just 0.2-seconds faster than Berg, again reigniting the question of who was truly the top in the State?
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The day of Regionals was here. For the first time in the event's history, the Federation Meet was cancelled due to weather. It prevented what could have been the first real matchup between these three. But here they were, lining up for a trip to Oregon, to compete at the Nike Cross National Championship. The race went out hard, as it usually does. At the mile mark, the pack was nearly ten wide, with the defending Regional Champion Garrett Brennan (Fayetteville-Manlius) right alongside them. It was anyone's race. The pack head up into the backhills, away from spectators, duking it out. Down the other side, into the second half of the race, it would be Berg stretching the field, but nobody too far behind. He had surged in the mid-point of the race, breaking open the pack.
Down the trail they went. The pack caught back up. By the playground, Stokes and Weilbaker, flanked by two from Manlius surpassed Berg, and went past. Across the bridge, and the pack began to separate even more. Both Stokes and Weilbaker made their final push. Coming out of the woods into the finishing chute, Weilbaker would have the advantage. But Stokes would open up his stride, and pull even. With one final push, Stokes would power through the line, winning the Regional, and making for Moment #8 of the 2019 Season. The Maine-Endwell would repeat the feat the following week, becoming the top placing New Yorker at NXN, but it was his victory at Bowdoin Park that sealed the deal. The performance would also help earn Stokes the NY Gatorade for XC.