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Girls Division 1 - 12:15pm
What to watch - It's going to be a dual to open up the day in the Varsity races, as Tess O'Donoghue (Marymount) faces off against local Mariem Sayahi (Voorheesville), as both come in with a 121 Speed Rating. Don't count out Anna Furman (Tri-Valley) either, who could play the spoiler.
Girls Division 2 - 1:15pm
What to watch - Erin Boler (Albany Academy) has a Speed Rating 20 points above the rest of the field, and will be chasing the clock as she tries to break into the Top 5 overall in the merge.
Girls Division 3 - 2:10pm
What to watch - Let's set aside the top athlete for a second. Home team Mia Paolino (Burnt Hills) is near dead even with Kerry Murphy (Cornwall), which should provide a close finish. Their respective teams also find themselves in the Top 3 in Class B for NYS, so the rankings will be settled here.
Of course, it would be hard to ignore Karrie Baloga (Cornwall) at the front of the pack. Baloga is currently ranked #2 in the Country, one fast speed rating away from moving to US #1. SPAC is the place to do it, as there is plenty of history on this course. Kelsey Chmiel (Saratoga) holds the course record at 16:34.02 in 2018, for a 158 Speed Rating. Chmiel would go on to finish second to Tuohy at NXN. Nicole Blood and Erin Davis both ran under 16:44, two more athletes hard-written in annuals of NY History. It's a good place to test your mettle.
Girls Division 4 - 3:05pm
What to watch - This race has plenty of storylines, but the Saratoga Girls team is right at the top. Late October is always the time we get our first real glance at the 'Streaks,' and while it may be earlier than the typical Suburban showdown, we still will get our first look since Pre-States.
Last we saw, Saratoga was four strong, with a fifth runner in the midst of development. Since then, Bethlehem had a breakout race at McQuaid, with a minor setback at Manhattan. Should Bethlehem race as well as they did at McQuaid, they are a real threat to winning this race, aided by their tight compression. Shaker, Shen, and Fairport are all in the Top 10 for Class A, and will provide valuable displacers in the field.
Individually, Emily Bush (Saratoga) is the highlight of the field, running strong races in her limited season. Bush actually beat Baloga at the last State Meet, and has her own claims to run fast on her 'home' course. Sophia McInnes (Bayport-Blue Point) is coming off a Top 5 finish at Manhattan, and is ready to progress. And Rylee Davis (Bethlehem) is looking to place the highest she can to fight for her team.