Cross-country sectionals

Bound for states

Bullldogs win team titles; Tri-Valley’s Roosa and Smith crowned individual champs

By RICHARD A. ROSS

BEAR MOUNTAIN, NY — On a balmy November 4, runners took to the trails at Bear Mountain for the annual Section 9 cross-country races. This rite of passage not only determines team and individual honors, it also is the qualifier for the state cross-country meet, held at Queensbury High School on November 12.

In Class C, Sullivan West won both the boys’ and girls’ team titles, but the latter came down to a single point edging of Tri-Valley. Courtney Roosa (19:47.22) was ahead of teammate Rachel Sanborn (19:53.03), but Sullivan West piled in more finishers with April Ackermann (20:01.21) and Jessica Wagner (20:07) taking third and fourth ahead of Tri-Valley’s Erin Beach (20:45.59). Other state qualifiers include Sullivan West’s Amanda Ward (21:00.98) in seventh place, Rianne Erlwein (21:14.85) in tenth place, Charlotte Peters (21:22.92) in 11th place, Chelsea Schadt (21:58.53) in 16th place and Kendra Barker (22.03.26) in 17th place along with Noelle Benson from Rhinebeck (20:57.13) in sixth place.

In the boys’ race, Tri-Valley’s Derek Smith (16:35.76) beat Sullivan West’s Mike VanWagenen (16:49.74) for the second week in a row. Sullivan West’s Trevor Kreznar (17:25.45) and Matt Gain (17:28.89) took third and fourth. Also heading to states are Sullivan West’s Brett Cucci (18:18.95) in ninth place, Matt Layman (18:21.61) in tenth place, Adam Nebzydoski (18:41.49) in 12th place and Leland Peterman (19:57.63) in 16th place, along with Tri-Valley’s Nick Denman (17:45.61) in seventh place and Michael Kaplan (18:11.77) in eighth place. They will be joined by Rhinebeck’s Frankie Stortini (17:35.42) in fifth place and Patrick Murray (17:36.25) in seventh place.

In Class D, Eldred’s Max Gunther (17:30.51) finished second behind Millbrook’s Benn McLaughlin (17:29.81). Eldred’s Kyle Anthony (18:39.17) took third. Also heading to states are Millbrook’s David Kelly (19:11.24) in fifth place, Lee Buelta( 19:13.71) in sixth place, Chance Wilk (19:44.47) in ninth place, Prescott McLaughlin (20:15.35) in 13th place and Tim Colgan (25:31.03) in 22nd place. They will be joined by Chester’s Justin Harrington (18:54.65) in fourth place and Chapel Field’s David St. Germaine (19:32) in seventh place.

Monticello’s Brendan Devine (16:20.25) took second in the Class A boys’ race behind Cornwall’s Colin Anderson (16:04.76).

Other team winners included the following: Class AA boys and girls: Warwick, Class A boys and girls: Cornwall, Class B boys: Onteora and Class B girls: New Paltz.