Written by Jack Labriola
Edited by and photos taken by Kyle Brazeil
Jamesville N.Y. - It was a very windy, rain-filled meet at the Chittenango Invitational in Jamesville, New York. 6 Varsity races went intermittently spread out between a combination of JV and Modified races. The course was a grassy, four-hillled 5K , but the course soon turned muddy as the conditions worsened over the course of the day.
Girls Varsity 1 race
Laura Pierce of Canton High School won the race with a time of 19:33.
Winning Team: Canton
“I really liked that the course was almost all grass, "Pierce said. "I hate having to run on harder surfaces like pavement, and then have to switch back to grass in a race.”
Even the hills couldn’t slow down Pierce, as she held a strong lead throughout the race
“The hills weren’t even too bad. I think they helped my race more than hurt it," Pierce said.
Laura hopes to keep working hard to break 19 minutes, and break into the top 10 at States.
Boys Varsity Race 1
Brendan Smith of CBA-Syracuse won with a time of 16:47.
Winning Team: Baldwinsville
After winning his race at the Manhattan Invitational a week prior in 80-degree weather, this meet’s weather was definitely a change of pace.
“It was a much different race than the one in Manhattan,” Smith said. “Besides the weather and the wind, the staggered hills here made it such that I didn’t really have a lot of time in between each one for recovery.”
Even without extra recovery time, Brendan Smith was able to get another solid win, proving he’s a tough force to be reckoned with coming towards the bigger meets at the end of the season.
“I hope to spend the next two weeks training,” Smith said. “No invites, just training for sectionals that are coming up, and trying to push hard through that meet as well.”
Girls Varsity 2 Race
Rachel Garn of Marcellus won the race with a time of 19:53.
Winning Team: Elmira District
A steady rain began to fall on the runners during the race, increasing the already muddy trails and hills.
“The rain is definitely affecting the hills out there," Garn said. "That steep hill is full of mud, and was definitely a killer during my race.”
It didn’t hurt her time too badly, as she finished the race strong, holding a nice lead the entire length of the way.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the season and trying to break 18:35 in the 5K,” Garn said. “I think my team and I are running really strong right now, and we can carry that on through our upcoming Sectionals.”
Boys Varsity Race 2
Ryan Manahan of Marcellus won the race in a time of 16:35.
Winning Team:Marcellus
After a harsh race, when asked how the course was, Manahan simply put it: “Muddy. Cold. Wet.” The course was getting torn up from the numerous races before, and began to give way under runners' feet. Manahan stuck closely with Logan Kempney of Beaver River and Tyler Ranke of Hilton for the first mile and a half.
“Honestly, I let them set the pace," Manahan said. "I just kept right behind them, drafting behind them, letting them take the bulk of the wind. When I saw my chance, I made my move.”
Always a strategizer, Manahan also has a strategy for the rest of his season.
“I’m exactly where I want to be right now,” Manahan said. “The next few weeks I hope to get some speed training in and prepare for sectionals. After that, my goal is to try and get first or second at States.”
Girls Varsity Race 3
Victoria Campanian from South Lewis won with a time of 19:44.
Winning Team: Cicero-North Syracuse
As the day wore on, the rain never let up, making the course exceedingly muddy.
“All the hills are full of mud, but I think I did pretty good," Campanian said. "It was a pretty slow race, but I think I did well for these conditions.”
Campanian ran well, taking a commanding lead early on and being able to hold onto it throughout.
“I’m hoping to keep this up and make it to States, and do well at Sectionals too,” said Campanian.” My ultimate goal for this season would be to make it to Federations and do even better. This is the time of the season to push myself even harder.”
Boys Varsity Race 3
Tim Banach of Corning won with a time of 17:13.
The last race found some of the closest action of the day. After South Lewis’s Sam Anderson led the race into the final homestretch, Corning’s Tim Banach out-kicked Anderson in the last 600 meters to claim the victory.
“I really didn’t even have him in my sights the entire race until the last mile or so," Banach said. "I saw him starting to slow down a little bit, and I took a chance and made the best of it.”
Banach had the best kick of the day, and in a race full of tough competitors, pulled out the win.
“I’m hoping to carry this momentum as a team, and try to win Federations like we did last year,” said Banach. “That’s my top goal.”