Despite hosting some of the most dominating schools in cross country across the nation, New York finds itself populated with more small-school districts than a majority of the country. More than 75-percent of all high schools in the Empire State hold less than 1,000 students, paling in comparison to the monster districts seen in circulation at national-level athletic competitions. Rarely do these smaller names break in at the sports' biggest stage.
But for one small town nestled in the Adirondacks, that time to shine just happened to come in 2020.
With six returning seniors in their top seven, the stars were aligned for Saranac Lake. Then the pandemic hit. But like any standout team, they managed to adapt to the circumstances, train with conviction, and represent their small town the best way they knew how: holding their own against the perennial powers in the Sport.
We spent a weekend with Saranac Lake in mid-October, with much of the season still in flux, to see how they were handling the most unorthodox year of them all, training in some of the most beautiful scenery the state has to offer.
Tune in Sunday night for 'Small Town Standouts: The Boys Of Saranac Lake.'