Cross country

Boys: Sullivan West 22, John S. Burke Catholic 33; Sullivan West 23, Port Jervis 32; Sullivan West 35, Cornwall 22

Girls: Sullivan West 18, John S. Burke Catholic 38; Sullivan West 15, Port Jervis 45; Sullivan West 34, Cornwall 23

Bulldog girls, ranked sixth in state, vanquish Burke and Port Jervis

Unranked boys fare just as well against Burke and Port

	TRR file photos by Richard A. Ross Sullivan West’s April Ackermann (16:41) came in second behind Class B Cornwall’s Lynne Mundy (16:20) on the 2.6-mile course at John S. Burke Catholic on September 30. Sullivan West beat out Burke and Port Jervis but came up short against Cornwall, a team that they will not have to compete against in Section IX. (Click for larger image)

GOSHEN, NY — Following last week’s splendid showing at the Tully Invitational, the Sullivan West girls’ cross country team garnered an unprecedented sixth place ranking in the state’s Class C.

“The team’s depth has been a great asset,” said Coach George Shakelton, who has only good things to say about all of his runners.

April Ackermann (16:41) took second in the meet against John S. Burke Catholic, Port Jervis and Cornwall on September 30. She finished behind Cornwall’s Lynne Mundy (16:20). Cornwall, a Class B school, does not figure to stand in the way of Class C Sullivan West winning the Section IX title in November. Running without Jessica Wagner, their second best runner who was still out sick, the Bulldogs easily beat John S. Burke and Port Jervis. Jamie Clifford (17:37) came in fifth, Amanda Ward (17:38) came in sixth, Michelle Manzi (18:25) came in ninth and Moselle DiPane (19:20) came in 15th. The girls’ record improved to 9-1 (2-0 OCIAA).

	Sullivan West’s Mike VanWagenen (14:36) came in second behind Cornwall’s John Hart (14:21), who set a course record on the new course. (Click for larger image)

The boys’ team ran without leader Ian Parnett but managed to beat out both Burke and Port Jervis. Mike VanWagenen (14:36) came in second behind Cornwall’s John Hart (14:21) who set a course record on the new course. Rob Ward (15:00) came in seventh and Trevor Kreznar (15:22) came in ninth. The boys’ team record is now 9-1 (2-0 OCIAA).

The next meet on October 7 at Pine Bush will send the Bulldogs head-to-head with James I. O’Neill, another Class C team that has been steadily improving.

“We’ll have to beat them to get to states as a team,” said Shakelton. Individual runners can still get to states from the Section IX meet if they are in the top five. That top five does not include the first place team’s runners.

Eldred boys beat out rival Chapel Field in six-team meet of larger schools

Middletown 17, Eldred 46; Valley Central 15, Eldred 50; Chapel Field 50, Eldred 15

MIDDLETOWN, NY — Kieran Pierce (18:03) came in 10th in a crowded field of runners from Middletown, S.S. Seward, Minisink Valley, Chapel Field, Valley Central and Eldred. Prisco Acevedo of Middletown (16:42) won the race. Max Gunther (19:40) came in 20th and Coyote Anderson (21:43) placed 40th.

Maggie Snyder (24:45) placed 20th in the girls’ race against the same teams. Katie Hanson (27:24) came in 32nd and Megan Shaffer (28:42) came in 33rd.