Class C's Top Runners
Again, with last year's action being greatly curtailed and split across both fall and spring for different sections, a clear picture for the upcoming XC season is hard to assemble. We'll just offer up a listing of some top runners who merit special watching.
The top seven runners from the 2019 States Class C race are no longer in the running for this year's title due either to graduation or the moves of Camden up to Class B and South Lewis down to Class D. That still leaves a strong corps of runners who were sophomore finishers in the 8th through 11th spots. We need to make a few assumptions about the status of a few of these runners, and hopefully at least a few of them are true.
Nina Sgambelluri (Greenwich). It is hard to believe that Greenwich would have finished 2nd at 2019 States if Sgambelluri had been available in November, as she finished 7th for the 2018 States champs as a freshman. Now a senior and successor to Brynne Wright, after a top 20 place at the Northeast XC championship in the fall and strong track season she appears ready to lead a coven of Witches to another States title.
Pipher Reid (Chenango Forks). No one will know the States course better than Reid at States, and after an 11th place as a sophomore at 2019 States and a 3rd place in this April in the Section 4 wrap-up meet behind only Corning's top two of Faithe Ketchum and Sarah Lawson, she may well be running for a state championship title.
Alexa Doe (South Jefferson). Doe (shown at bottom of page) was tops among the three strong 2021 States C contenders who placed in the top 26 at the Northeast XC championship last fall as she placed 12th. She had a busy spring in the long distance and steeplechase events and should start off this season at the top of the leaderboards after a 10th in the 2019 States meet for a Spartans team that will battle for the title this year.
Madelyn Dinneen (Norwood-Norfolk). The Flyer senior is the highest placing returner from the 2019 States C race (8th) and after a 1st place in the first section and 8th place overall in the 1500m of the New York Showcase in June, Dinneen looks set to lead a strong team from Section 10 that also includes top junior Sharon Colbert in a run at a state title. Note, NN could be running in Class D. Status unclear.
Madison Luke (Clinton). Luke placed 9th in 2019 States C race and has been busy juggling soccer and XC duties in the fall. Her Warriors squad should again be in the hunt for the S3-C title.
Jaelyn Chrysler (Owego). Chrysler impressed as a 7th grader with a 2nd in the Marathon Invite in April, and she will likely be battling Pipher Reid for the S4-C crown as her team moves down from Class B.
Angelina Napoleon (Allegany-Limestone). A medalist in the 2019 States C race, Napoleon was tops among the runners in the Section 6 Class C races last fall.
Kylie Bowman (Newfane). As an 8th grader Bowman was top finisher for her 3rd place squad in the 2019 States race and will be leading a Panthers squad that will be one of the favorites for a state championship this year.
More Runners with High Expectations: Also watch for Voorheesville junior Mariem Sayahi who leads the Blackbirds' battle with Greenwich in S2-C; Springville-Griffith's Hannah Goetz and Kristin Melnik will be high flyers in S6-C; Wheatley's Julia Schriefer should again be the class of S8-C with her fellow senior teammate Emmie Keys; James O'Neill's Leah Richardson will be trying to sort out what resources her 5th place 2019 States team has this year; and a trio of Section 1 stars including 2019 States medalist senior Adriana Catalano (Pleasantville), 2020 Westchester Small Schools champ junior Fenna Laban (Dobbs Ferry), and Bronxville's fast-rising freshman Maddy Williams. Plus: a very young workhorse of a runner from Section 7 to be named at a future time.
