Amsterdam’s Olivia Lazarou finished 47th out of a field of 249 runners at the New York State Federation Cross Country Championships held Saturday at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, NY.
Lazarou, a junior on the Amsterdam High School girls varsity cross country team posted a time of 19 minutes 55.8 seconds for her second straight top 50 finish at the Federation meet race. Saratoga Springs sophomore Kelsey Chmiel won the girls race with a time of 18:10.2. Chmiel is also the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Section 2 Class A and state champion.
Lazarou’s time was only a second behind the only other Foothills Council girls runner in the race, South Glens Falls senior Regina Rosati (19:54.1), who finished 46th overall. Rosati was also this year’s Foothills Council girls varsity champion.
The top 50 finish capped another outstanding season for Lazarou, who won four dual meet Foothills Council races, and placed first in both the Galway Inviational and the Harvest Classic at Schodack Island State Park. Lazarou also posted top five finishes at the Verona-Verona-Sherrill Classic, and was second only to Rosati at the Foothills Council Championships in October at Saratoga State Park. A 17th place finish in a very competitive Class A race at the Section 2 championships helped earn Lazarou a bid to the Federation meet. Lazarou finished 45th at least year’s Federation meet. North Rockland won the girls race with 75 team points. Shenendehowa (125 pts) led by top ten finishes from Hannah Reale (18:49.3), and Julia Zachgo (18:58.6) finished second and Saratoga Springs (153 points) was third. Guilderland’s Noah Carey (16:06.0) won the boys race. The Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake boys team (154) was the top Section 2 squad, second only to Watkins Glen, the boys team champion with 145 points.
Lazarou, Onzo among first team Foothills Council all-stars
Lazarou also earned her third straight Foothills Council all-star first team selection when the names were released this weekend. Joining her was Broadalbin-Perth senior Celina Onzo, who led the Lady Patriots to another undefeated season in Foothills Council dual meets this year. Onzo, in only her second season with the BPHS cross country program turned in several inspirational performances including her second straight top ten finish at the NYSPHSAA Section 2 Class C championships in November at Saratoga Springs State Park. Onzo recovered from an early season injury and narrowly missed a chance to run in the state meet.
Johnstown senior Aylene Newman was also named to the first team. Newman turned in a pair of strong performances at the end of the season, finishing fourth at the Foothills Council Championships, and ninth at the sectional meet. South Glens Falls senior Regina Rosati, the 2016 Foothills Council girls champion, Queensbury’s Emily Atamanchuk and Emma Demboski, and Scotia-Glenville’s Juliana Geniti rounded out the first team selections.
Broadalbin-Perth sophomore Gabrielle Larsen, and Gloversville sophomore Daley Jo Christman were named to the second team. Joining them were Emma Hayes and Margaret Borgos of Queensbury, Sunni Labounty of Schuylerville, Laura Meade of Scotia- Glenville, and Megan Linendoll of Hudson Falls.
Amsterdam senior Makayla Pine earned an honorable mention along with a trio of Johnstown runners. Junior Julia Sarullo, sophomore Julia Preston, and senior Casey Vanvalkenburgh represented the Lady Bills. Rounding out the honorable mention choices were Schuylerville senior Ashley Watson, South Glens Falls’ Kianna Bennet, Sarah Burton of Glens Falls, Liz Darling of Scotia- Glenville, and Queensbury’s Lauren Guilfoil, Eliza Blood, Daniele Soprano, Annalise Beyerbach, Kinsley Holl, and Alexis Bartlett.
Natole an all-star choice for AHS boys
Amsterdam senior Antonio Natole was among the honorable mention selections for the 2016 Foothills Council boys all- stars. Gloversville sophomore Skyler, and Johnstown’s Brandon Mraz, Michael Simone, Gabe Cole, and Alex Quillan also earned honorable mention nods.
The 2016 Foothills Council all-stars boys first team included champion Chris Hughes of Glens Falls, Hughes’ teammates Cameron Giordano, and Ethan Wyman, Queensbury’s Kevin Bouyea, Nick Logan, and Ethan Carey, South Glens Falls’ Frank Triolo, and Scotia-Glenville’s Jacob Greski.
Among second team selections were Cody Metcalf, Nino Manzella, and Stephen Kowalczyk of Queensbury, Noah Britton of Gelns Falls, Derek Bernard, and Nate Nagle of South Glens Falls, and Davante Jones of Schuylerville.
Hughes was the only Foothills Council boys competitor at the Federation meet and finished 54th out of 250 runners with a time of 17 minutes and 14.9 seconds. Hughes won both the Foothills Council and Section 2 Class C title this year.
