Bowdoin Park, NY - In what will be the final invitational of the year at the famous Bowdoin Park, times seem to be slowed by mud and muck. However, New York is never one to shy away, and competition was fierce over the 5k. Find out how each race broke down below.
Varsity Boys 1
The boys from Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons put on quite a show to start off the day. Scoring only 41 points, they managed to cram 4 runners in the top 5 of the race. Led by senior Jason Lange in 16:46.76, the quartet was only broken up by Alex Shodai of Middletown in third. Bishop Gibbons did so well, they placed third in the Varsity Merge, over other well established teams one class up. Impressive.
Varsity Girls 1
Tappan Zee's Erin Jaskot had some pressure on her in the early parts of the race from athletes of Holy Trinity, but one she hit the downhill, Jaskot took off. 5th fastest of the day, she would finish in 19:37.58, and lead her team to the overall win.
Varsity Boys 2
The toughest team race of the day, that saw ebbing and flowing between three squads up and down the hills of Bowdoin, it would be Jack Curran of Calhoun to take the win, in the day's 2nd fastest time of 16:46.07. Trailed by Matt Jorgensen of Pawling, and Rufus Warham of Mount Academy, it would be these three teams duking it out for the win. In the end, it was Curran's effort that lead his team to the win, as the final score was Calhoun 40, Mount 54, and Pawling 61.
Varsity Girls 2
Kelly Hayes of Pearl River had a flash of red following her up Bowdoin Park yesterday, in the form of Julia Rubin-Armstrong and Emily Waligurski of Onteora. But Hayes held strong, using the downhills to her advantage, and securing a steady lead. Finishing first, in 19:31.63, Hayes would be the fourth fastest finisher of the day. In second would be Natalie Tanner of Rye Neck, whose strong second half clinched the position.
Varsity Boys 3
Sibby Hanson of Arlington (ranked in the top 10 in the state) was a heavy favorite to win. Although pressured by Jack Stevenson of Stuyvesant, Hanson dropped the competition through the back hills, and began a descent that would nab him the fastest time of the day, 16:12.65. However, more eyes would be on the rest of his team, as they prepare for a course that may have heavy significance for them later in the season. Putting their top 5 in under 12 athletes secured them a very good course average (17:07) as well as the win in the varsity merge.
Varsity Girls 3
What turned out to be a grinding duel between Corrinne Florie of Mahopac and MaryKate O'Meara of Nanuet, became a welcome success for both. While Florie took the race by a wide margin, winning in the days third fastest time of the day in 19:25.24, O'Meara found success on the team side of things. Nanuet scored 16 points to take the win, which also saw an upset in the varsity merge, as they took first overall over top ranked Bronxville.
Varsity Boys 4
With Eric Holt of Carmel on college visits for the weekend, and sophomore Benito Muniz taking the day off, the Boys Varsity 4 race became wide open. 4 apt challengers appeared, (picture above); Justin Zorn (Somers), Stephen Shine (Briarcliff), John Flannery (Bronxville), and Galo Vasquez (Lakeland/Panas). But by the downhill, Shine was moving quick, passing then leader Flannery on the last 600m. Shine would go on to win in 16:49.58. Team wise, it was all North Rockland, as a pack of four crossed the line in unison in 7th.
Varsity Girls 4
Arlington's Bella Burda and Delphi Cleaveland have both been having outstanding season's and their latest race was no exception. Running together, they seperated early from the field, and finished in the top two spots of the day (Burda 18:24.79, Cleaveland 19:13.36). Behind them, it was top ranked Bronxville, who would take the team title, despite no longer running with teammate Mary Cain. The Bronco's top runner was 8th grader Kaitin Ryan in 19:54.77, who was 9th fastest of the day.