Several area high school cross country teams trekked across the Saratoga Springs State Park course on Monday afternoon in search of a Foothills Council cross country championship. Among the boys teams were Amsterdam, Broadalbin-Perth, Johnstown, and Gloversville. Some runners posted their best times of the season.
Rams finish seventh in varsity boys race
The Amsterdam High School boys team totaled 199 points to place seventh among the varsity boys teams. Junior Ryan Kamanu was the first to cross the line for AHS with a time of 18 minutes, and 7.94 seconds placing 33rd overall. Not far behind was freshman Daniel Bublak (18:09.87), whose time was nearly three minutes better than his last run at the Saratoga Park course during the Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake Invitational nearly two weeks ago. Bublak was among the top 25 freshman honored after the race. Only Queensbury’s Nick Logan (16:40.26) posted a faster time among freshman. Next across the line for AHS was senior Antonio Natole (18:59.81), followed by eighth grader Trevor Dzikowicz (19:04.20), who also ran a better time than he did at the BH-BL Invy.
“I’m happy with my race,” Dzikowicz said. “I beat my best time from the last race by twenty seconds.”
Bublak and Dzikowicz were not alone in posting better times on Monday. Amsterdam’s fifth runner to complete the course for varsity, John Companion (19:55.10) also was improved from his time at the BH-BL Invitational, a trend that would continue for the Amsterdam teams.
“Based on how we did two weeks ago, our boys teams were much better,” Amsterdam coach Kevin Wilary said. “Our boys varsity team was better and posted faster times than two weeks ago. Hopefully we can pick up on that two weeks from now at sectionals.”
Navigating the course was no easy task as over 60 runners all tried to compete for good position over the better than three mile course, and then finish strong. A smaller sample compared to over 100 runners that ran in one group of the BH-BL Invitational.
“A lot of people were faster, but that could be because it was a smaller group,” Dzikowicz said. “The first hill wasn’t so bad this time, but that second hill felt harder.”
Pikul places in top 20 for junior varsity race
Chris Pikul led the Amsterdam junior varsity boys team with a 17th place finish and a time of 19:45.20. Cuba Fernandez (20:40.80), Marcos Santiago (21:40.35), Marco Rivera (21:43.89), Nick Rodecker (25:38.18), Jon Santiago (26:42.77), and Lucas Tepan (27:17.19) helped the Rams junior squad place fifth with 130 points.
Ramos and Quinones among top 25 in modified race
Chaun J’ Ramos (12:34.41) finished 12th, and Errol Quinones (13:46.56) finished 25th and picked up ribbons at the awards ceremony as they were in the top 25 in the modified boys race. Seventh grader Syed Hussain (15:29.75) improved his time from his last race by 30 seconds to help the Amsterdam boys.
The Amsterdam boys teams will be off and running again in one final tune up before sectionals on Saturday at the Harvest Classic at Schodack Island State Park.
Johnstown boys fifth, B-P boys eighth in varsity race
The Johnstown Sir Bills boys varsity cross country team finished with 146 points in a tie with Schuyler -ville, but because the Sir Bills had a total time (1:30:06.00), and a better average time (18:01.20), Johnstown earned the fifth place slot. Senior Brandon Mraz (17:15.38) was the Sir Bills top runner in 15th place. Sophomore Alex Quillan (17:40.98) joined him in the top 25. Gabe Cole (17:55.31), Michael Simone (18:08.60), Zach Ropeter (19:05.73), Mark Cwiakala (19:06.51), and Dominic Discioscia (19:59.59) all helped in the Sir Bills finish in the top five as a team.
The Broadalbin- Perth varsity boys team finished in eight place getting 201 points. Sophomore James Mosher (17:51.02) was the first to cross the line for the Patriots in 29th. Following Mosher were fellow sophomores Wyatt Couperus (18:41.78), and Devin Becker (18:54.98), freshman Micah Smith (19:43.06), junior Evan Smith (20:03.80), and freshman Jeffrey Shlomovich (20:31.30).
The Gloversville varsity boys team totaled 246 points for ninth place. Sophomore Skyler Reed (17:50.47) led the Huskies with a 28th place finish. Another sophomore, Riley Lake (19:51.28) also finished in the top 50.
Glens Falls won the varsity race with 38 points, seven points better than Queensbury. Junior Chris Hughes (15:17.95) was the overall winner of the boys race. Hughes, who also won at the BH-BL Invitational was joined in the top five by teammates Cameron Giordano (16:32.8), and Ethan Wyman (16:39.99). Queensbury’s Kevin Bouyea (15:55.59) finished second, and South Glens Falls’ Frank Triolo (16:18.63) was third.
Dylong in top ten for B-P modified boys
Broadabin-Perth’ Daniel Dylong turned in the best effort of the day for the Patriots boys team with a time of 12:15.79 in the boys modified race. Dylong’s teammate Michael Dormond (13:55.26) finished 26th overall.
Three runners in top 25 for Sir Bills junior varsity boys
Johnstown’s Nathan Cotton (20:19.07), Alfio Demarco (20:20.12), and Christian Germany (20:26.22) each earned a top 25 finish for the Sir Bills in the boys junior varsity race. Cotton was 21st, Demarco 22nd, and Germany came in 25th.
Teams from the Foothills Council will be back in action with all of Section 2 as the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) cross country championships will also be held at Saratoga Springs State Park on Friday, November 4, 2016.
