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2018 Cross Country
Girls Sectional Preview |
Note: As I say every year, this is just a projection. It's pretty much everyone's best Saratoga State Park times and some adjustments where I felt it was needed. I have not included any new runners that teams have added but I may have adjusted team scores if I have an accurate guess on where to put them.
Girls: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D
Girls Class A - 11:30am
What to looks for: Saratoga's 16 year win streak was broken last year but they will be the slight favorite in a tight four team race with Niskayuna, Bethlehem, and last year's champion, Shenendehowa. It will most likely depend on the strength of their 4th and 5th runner's strength. Saratoga gets the slightest favorite tag right now but it is too tight to give anyone a real edge. Individually, Saratoga's Kelsey Chmiel already hold the Saratoga State Park course record and is the big favorite. Ballston Spa's Faith Demars looks to be a solid 2nd.
Top 20 Class A Returning Individuals
| 1. | Kelsey Chmiel | Saratoga Springs | 11. | Alexandria Vellekoop | Guilderland |
| 2. | Faith Demars | Ballston Spa | 12. | Luccabella Hotaling | Shenendehowa |
| 3. | Rachel Hodge | Bethlehem | 13. | Gillian Roeder | Bethlehem |
| 4. | Ciara Knott | Saratoga Springs | 14. | Kaleigh Higgins | Shaker |
| 5. | Liyat Kebbede | Niskayuna | 15. | Jade Dennis | Shenendehowa |
| 6. | Riley Davis | Bethlehem | 16. | Abigail Thomas | Niskayuna |
| 7. | Kathryn Tenney | Colonie | 17. | Natalie Penna | Albany High |
| 8. | Hannah Belleville | Shenendehowa | 18. | Emily Smith | Bethlehem |
| 9. | Charlotte Kokernak | Niskayuna | 19. | McKinley Wheeler | Saratoga Springs |
| 10. | Jada Dennis | Shenendehowa | 20. | Sophia Boler | Niskayuna |
Class A Team Preview
| PL | School | Pts. | Brief Summary of team |
| 1. | Saratoga Springs | 72 | Having the #2 runner in the nation is a good start, rest of the team a combo of seniors and younger runners |
| 2. | Niskayuna | 74 | Kebbe and Kokernak are solid top 10 runners. Rest of team needs to be a little bit closer to the top 2 |
| 3. | Shenendehowa | 75 | Lost a lot but still very deep with Belleville and the Dennis' leading. Can definitely repeat |
| 4. | Bethlehem | 83 | Hodge and Davis are a solid top two but need that 5th spot to close the gap if they want a shot at the title |
| 5. | Guilderland | 141 | Vellekoop leads in the mid 18's but 4th and 5th runners need to close the 1-5 gap |
| 6. | Shaker | 181 | Higgins leads and was just under 19 min. 4th and 5th need to get under 20 min. to improve team |
| 7. | Colonie | 212 | Tenney is a solid number one, everyone else is over 20 min. but new runners could help |
| 8. | Ballston Spa | 227 | Demars is one of the top runners but rest of team need to drop, especially their 4th and 5th |
| 9. | Columbia | 240 | Matthews and Farnan in the 19's but rest of team need to close the gap to them |
| 10. | Albany High | 277 | Penna and Stich in 19's are a big help but everyone else is more than 3 minutes behind |
| 11. | Queensbury | 281 | No one under 20 min so teams needs to pack it in better than where they are right now to move up |
| 12. | Amsterdam | 324 | Losing state qualifier Lazarou is huge. Satiago and Sondrup only ones under 21 min. |
| 13. | Schenectady | 382 | Only 5 runners return. 4th and 5th runners over 27 min. each and need improvements there |
| 14. | Troy | inc. | No one returns. Need to work on reloading team |
Girls Class B - 12:00pm
What to looks for: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake edged out Mohonasen last year for the title but Mohonasen returns everyone and is the early favorite to win their first sectional championship. Burnt Hills won't give up their four year reign that easily though but right now Mohonasen's back end looks a little bit stronger but it won't be an easy win. Rory Graham of Burnt Hills is the defending champion and is favored to repeat with teammate Emily Berg and Mohonasen's Kate and Anna Sherman to challenge her. Holy Names' Isabel Vogel could sneak in.
Top 20 Class B Returning Individuals
| 1. | Rory Graham-Sr. | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake | 11. | Maddy Smith-So. | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake |
| 2. | Kate Sherman-So. | Mohonasen | 12. | Livingston Ottman-Fr. | Holy Names |
| 3. | Emily Berg-Fr. | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake | 13. | Natalia Sawyer-Fr. | Mohonasen |
| 4. | Anna Sherman-Sr. | Mohonasen | 14. | Christa Bailey-Jr. | Mohonasen |
| 5. | Isabel Vogel-Fr. | Holy Names | 15. | Delaney Krough-So. | Scotia-Glenville |
| 6. | Emma Sinisgalli-Jr. | Mohonasen | 16. | Daley Jo Christman-Sr. | Gloversville |
| 7. | Skylar Dailey-Jr. | Emma Willard | 17. | Madi Whited-So. | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake |
| 8. | Katie Culliton-Jr. | Glens Falls | 18. | Olivia Wheeler-Jr. | Scotia-Glenville |
| 9. | Mya June-So. | Schalmont | 19. | Courtney DiCarlo-So. | Scotia-Glenville |
| 10. | Emily Pahl-Sr. | Schalmont | 20. | Nikki Dugan-Jr. | Scotia-Glenville |
Class B Team Preview
| PL | School | Pts. | Brief Summary of team |
| 1. | Mohonasen | 39 | Have the team to win it all with the Sherman's leading the way. Will want 4th and 5th to close gap |
| 2. | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake | 51 | Graham and Berg are solid top two but need their 4th and 5th to drop under 20 minutes to win it all |
| 3. | Scotia-Glenville | 95 | Good 1-5 spread but will need a little more depth to hold on for 3rd |
| 4. | Holy Names | 122 | Vogel and Ottman are both in the 19's but everyone else is over 22 min. and team to drop times |
| 5. | Schalmont | 129 | Good top two with June and Pahl but need more depth as everyone else is over 21 min. |
| 6. | Emma Willard | 153 | Dailey is solid number one in the 19's rest are over 3 minutes behind and need to improve |
| 7. | South Glens Falls | 164 | No one under 21 min. and need 4th and 5th to close the 1-5 gap to move up |
| 8. | Glens Falls | 177 | Culliton in the 19's is a solid #1 but rest of team is over 3 min. behind and need to close the gap |
| 9. | Averill Park | 206 | Myers only runner under 22 min. but new runners could help improvement from the team |
| 10. | Lansingburgh | 305 | Four returning runners and no one under 25 minutes so they'll need improvements |
| 11. | Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons | inc. | Only three runners back with non one under 23 minutes |
| Gloversville | inc. | Only three runners back. Christman a good start running just over 20 min. | |
Girls Class C - 12:30pm
What to looks for: Greenwich moves up to Class C but it may actually help them when they get to states. All five returning runners are in the top 10 and shouldn't have much of a problem winning sectionals. The real battle will be for 2nd place with Greenville, Schuylerville, Ichabod Crane, Voorheesville, and Cobleskill-Richmondville all having a solid shot at the runner-up spot. Greenville has the edge for now with three runners in the top 20. Individually, Greenwich's Brynne Wright is the only runner under 18 minutes and is the favorite. Greenville's Tess Fitzmaurice and Greenwich's Emma Cronin are the only other two runners under 19 minutes.
Top 20 Class C Returning Individuals
| 1. | Brynne Wright | Greenwich | 11. | Rachel Comstock | Cobleskill-Richmondville |
| 2. | Tess Fitzmaurice | Greenville | 12. | Brooke Wright | Greenwich |
| 3. | Emma Cronin | Greenwich | 13. | Cate Tomson | Albany Academy |
| 4. | Teagan Wright | Greenwich | 14. | Annabel Gregg | Greenwich |
| 5. | Sunni LaBounty | Schuylerville | 15. | Anika Parnell | Corinth |
| 6. | Quinn Collins | Greenwich | 16. | Alexandrea Goyette | Greenville |
| 7. | Mariem Sayahi | Voorheesville | 17. | Khalifah Tracey | Greenville |
| 8. | Gabrielle Larsen | Broadalbin-Perth | 18. | Samantha Murphy | Broadalbin-Perth |
| 9. | Anya Vautrin | Schuylerville | 19. | Victoria Slade | Ichabod Crane |
| 10. | Emily Skiff | Greenwich | 20. | Gabrielle Myers | Cairo-Durham |
Class C Team Preview
| PL | School | Pts. | Brief Summary of team |
| 1. | Greenwich | 24 | Moving up to "C"'s doesn't change much. Should win big. Brynne Wright is only runner under 18 min. |
| 2. | Greenville | 111 | Fitzmaurice is under 19 min but will want 4th and 5th to close the gap to hold on to 2nd. |
| 3. | Schuylerville | 130 | LaBounty and Vautrin are both top 10 runners, need more depth from their 5th spot to move up to 2nd. |
| 4. | Ichabod Crane | 172 | Slade and Wall are both in the 20's but need 4th and 5th runners to close the gap |
| 5. | Voorheesville | 181 | Sayahi is in the 19's but rest are over 21 min. and need to improve to close the 1-5 gap |
| 6. | Cobleskill-Richmondville | 187 | Comstock is in the 20's but need their 4th and 5th to drop under 22 min. to move up |
| 7. | Albany Academy | 210 | Tomson is in the mid 20's. Will want 3-5 to drop under 22 min. to move up to top 3 |
| 8. | Broadalbin-Perth | 236 | Larsen and Murphy were both in the 20's but only have 4 return. New runners can help the team move up |
| 9. | Chatham | 242 | Gregg is in the high 20's but 5th runner is over 23 min. and need to close the gap to their top 4 |
| 10. | Mechanicville | 245 | Fitzgerald is in the high 20's but 4th and 5th need to close the gap to their top 3 |
| 11. | Corinth | 252 | Parnell leads in the mid 20's but 4th and 5th are over 23 min. Need to close the gap to their top 3 runners |
| 12. | Cairo-Durham | 307 | Myers and Ivery are both in the mid 20's but rest of the team is 4 minutes back and need to close the gap |
| 13. | Johnstown | 340 | Romano and Preston lead in the high 21's. Other two returnees are over 23 min. and need improvements |
| 14. | Fonda-Fultonville | 357 | Clear is just over 21 min and leads the team. 4th and 5th are over 28 min. but new runners should help |
| 15. | Cohoes | 362 | Only four return in the 22's and 23's. Could move up with improvements |
| 16. | Fort Plain/Canajoharie | 380 | Stockwell in low 22's lead but 4th and 5th are over 27 min. and may need new blood to improve |
| 17. | Granville/Whitehall | 407 | Eggleston is in the mid 21's but rest of the team are over 26 min. and need to see improvements |
| 18. | Catskill | inc. | Only return three with Smith and Asif are both in the 22's |
| Coxsackie-Athens | inc. | Baxter is the only returning runner and was in the mid 24's last year | |
| Hoosick Falls | inc. | three return with McDonald in the low 24's leading the team | |
| Hudson | inc. | Three return led by Dellavechia in the mid 20's. | |
| Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk | inc. | Only two return with Tourangeau in the high 20's | |
| Rensselaer/Doane Stuart | inc. | Two return with Davies leading in the mid 24's | |
| Stillwater | inc. | Three return but Locci and Urbanki are a solid top two | |
| Taconic Hills | inc. | Two return with Madsen top runner in the high 20's | |
| Tamarac | inc. | Three return led by Barcomb in the mid 22's | |
| Watervliet | inc. | Starting over with new runners |
Girls Class D - 11:00am
What to looks for: With Greenwich moving up, Duanesburg moves back down and is the favorite to win with a solid 1-2 punch of Elaine Atanasova and Jen Skeeter and two more runners in the top 20. Berlin looks to be the only one that can challenge with three in the top 20 but need their top five to move up more to challenge. Hoosic Valley could be a deep sleeper with a couple of talented runners moving up from modified. Individually, Mayfield's Madison Relyea is the top returning runners but Duanesburg's Atanasova and Skeeter are the closest to challenge her for the title.
Top 20 Class D Returning Individuals
| 1. | Madison Relyea-So. | Mayfield | 11. | Caroline Mundell-Jr. | Berne-Knox-Westerlo |
| 2. | Elaine Atanasova-Sr. | Duanesburg | 12. | Hanna Avery-Sr. | Duanesburg |
| 3. | Jen Skeeter-Sr. | Duanesburg | 13. | Kailey Gayton-Fr. | Hartford |
| 4. | Carolyn Burnell-Sr. | Hoosic Valley | 14. | Lauren Maher-Jr. | Saratoga Catholic |
| 5. | Angelina Pusateri-8th | Maple Hill | 15. | Elise Corbett-8th | Berlin |
| 6. | Michelle Puzulis-So. | Berne-Knox-Westerlo | 16. | Alice Cole-Sr. | Duanesburg |
| 7. | Madison Lilienthal-Jr. | Mekeel Christian | 17. | Brady Hills-Fr. | Berlin |
| 8. | Isabelle Gulick-Jr. | Argyle/Fort Edward | 18. | Taylor Suprenant--Sr. | Argyle/Fort Edward |
| 9. | Katie Cronin-Fr. | Saratoga Catholic | 19. | Haley Chaykowski Jewett-Sr. | Berlin |
| 10. | Sarah Mattfeld-So. | Catholic Central | 20. | Natalie Zembsch-Sr. | Galway |
Class D Team Preview
| PL | School | Pts. | Brief Summary of team |
| 1. | Duanesburg | 54 | Atanasova and Skeeter and solid top two. Will want 3rd-5th to tighten the gap though |
| 2. | Berlin | 88 | Solid 1-5 gap of 46 seconds but will need to see the times drop if they want to challenge for the title |
| 3. | Catholic Central | 142 | Mattfield leads the team in the mid 21's but need their 4th and 5th to drop under 23 min. to close gap |
| 4. | Berne-Knox-Westerlo | 157 | Puzulis leads the team in the high 19's but need their 4th and 5th to close the gap to their top 3 |
| 5. | Maple Hill | 167 | Pusateri is a solid #1 in the mid 19's. Rest of the team are over 22 min. and need to close the gap |
| 6. | Argyle/Fort Edward | 170 | Gulick leads the team in the mid 20's. Need 3rd-5th runners to close the gap |
| 7. | North Warren/Johnsburg | 197 | Anderson leads team in the mid 22's with a bunch in the 23's and need to move closer to Anderson |
| 8. | Hoosic Valley | 204 | Burnell is a solid #1 in mid 19's. Team can vastly improve with some new runners moving up |
| 9. | Saratoga Catholic | 206 | Cronin is in the high 20's and Maher in the mid 21's but rest of team over 23 min. and have to improve |
| 10. | Hartford | 208 | Gayton leads in the mid 21's but 3rd-5th are over 24 min. and need to improve |
| 11. | Schoharie | 224 | Kosier and Cater are in the mid 22's but 4th and 5th are over 5 min. and need to drop times |
| 12. | Galway | 226 | Zembesch leads the team in the low 22's but 3rd-5th need to drop under 24 min. to close the gap |
| 13. | Lake George | 271 | McDermid leads the team in the mid 22's but 3rd-5th are over 25 min. and need to drop times |
| 14. | Hadley-Luzerne | inc. | Cook is the only runner returning |
| Mayfield | inc. | Only two runners but Relyea is the top returning runner in the class. | |
| Mekeel Christian | inc. | Only two return with Lilienthal leading the team in the low 20's | |
| OESJ | inc. | Mumford is the only returning runner |