2019 Cross Country
Boys  Pre-Season Sectional Preview

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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.

Boys: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D

Note: These were done before 9/7

Boys Class A

    

What to Look For: Shenendehowa is the returning champion and brings back enough depth back from last year to be the favorites to repeat as Section champions as everyone else that is challenging lost some top runners. The Plainsmen have much better depth than everyone else as they have three coming back in the top 10 with a fourth in the top 15. Guilderland and Saratoga should battle it out for second as they both bring back solid teams even though they both lost top runners. Guilderland returns four in the top 20 but are looking for more depth. Saratoga will rely on more pack running this year after losing State Champion Shea Weilbaker but have four runners that were sub 10 or just over 10 minutes in the 3200 meters last spring. Shaker could make it a solid top four teams with a little more help from their back end. Individually, Ballston Spa's Ben Guerin and Queensbury's Nick Logan are the only two runners that are right around the mid 15 minute range from last year as the rest of the top 10 were in the 15:50-16:10 range last year, though we could see a young runner like Shenendehowa's Nathan Brimhall, Saratoga's Ryan Bush, or Guilderland's Micah Tindale make the jump in the sophomore years.

 

Top 20 Class A Returning Individuals

1. Ben Guerin-Sr. Ballston Spa 11. Francisco Mendonca-Jr. Shaker
2. Nick Logan-Sr. Queensbury 12. Ryan Shanahan-Sr. Shenendehowa
3. T.J. Randall-Sr. Shaker 13. Ian Hansen-Jr. Ballston Spa
4. Bryan Spence-Sr. Shenendehowa 14. Jack Parsons-Sr. Guilderland
5. Jakob Quail-Sr. Shenendehowa 15. Patrick Garland-Sr. Ballston Spa
6. Thomas Ragone-Sr. Niskayuna 16. Micah Tindale-So. Guilderland
7. Aidan Waite-Sr. Saratoga Springs 17. Alexander Gent-Sr. Guilderland
8. Sean O'Brien-Sr. Guilderland 18. Shazim Permaul-Sr. Schenectady
9. Brady Tooker-Jr. Saratoga Springs 19. Julian Franjieh-So. Niskayuna
10. Nathan Brimhall-So. Shenendehowa 20. Dawson Tooker-Jr. Saratoga Springs

 

Class A Team Preview

PL School Pts. Brief Summary of team
1. Shenendehowa 54 Three returning in the top 10 and a deeper team then the rest of Class A gives them the edge to repeat
2. Guilderland 81 Solid top 4 with all in the returning top 20. May need a little more up front to beat Shenendehowa
3. Saratoga Springs 82 Took some big losses but looking to regain the top spot with a tight top 5 instead of relying on a front runner
4. Shaker 96 Randall and Mendonca are a solid top tow but need a little more from their back end to crack the top 3
5. Ballston Spa 116 Guerin is one of the top runners in the section and Hansen and Garland give them three in the top 20
6. Niskayuna 162 Solid top two but need big improvement from their back end if they want to move up
7. Queensbury 185 Logan will challenge for Sectional title. Rest of team will need to close the gap if they want to crack the top 5
8. Bethlehem 222 Big losses from last year. Will need their 3rd through 5th to close the gap to move up
9. Colonie 257 Inexperience hurts the team. Young so there's a lot of room for improvements
10. Columbia 268 Lost a bunch to graduation. New group looks to move up with big improvements
11. Schenectady 272 Lost their top runner and will need to see improvements through their top 5
12. Albany High 391 Crushed by graduation so a mostly new group will need to improve
13. Troy inc. Incomplete last year so filling the team will be the first step
       
       

Boys Class B

 

What to Look For: Three time state Champion Burnt Hills lost their top four from last year so that should be it for them, right? Anyone that knows anything about Section 2 running knows that's far from the truth as they still return the top three times from last year and have their top five all in the top 9 of returning runners and are big favorites for the seventh straight sectional title. Scotia-Glenville looks solid for the runner-up position as they return two in the top 10 and four in the top 20. Mohonasen and C.B.A. should battle it out for third and possibly second if something happens to Scotia. Both teams have two in the top 20 and similar back ends. Individually, Burnt Hills' David Metacarpa is the only returning runner under 16 minutes last year but teammates Ryan Allison and Kevin Board should challenge him, especially Allison after a solid spring is freshmen year. Mohonasen's Nathan Belcastro, South Glens Falls' Cowen Leininger, Scotia-Glenville's Noah Greski and Kyle Ostrander, and Burnt Hills' Dante Ubriaco could crack the top three with solid seasons.

 

 

 

Top 20 Class B Returning Individuals

1. David Metacarpa-Sr. Burnt Hills 11. Alex Tebano-Jr. Scotia-Glenville
2. Kevin Board-Sr. Burnt Hills 12. Evan Williams-So. C.B.A.
3. Ryan Allison-So. Burnt Hills 13. Zackary Scribner-Sr. Burnt Hills
4. Nathan Belcastro-Sr. Mohonasen 14. Trevor Dzikowicz-Jr. Amsterdam
5. Cowen Leininger-Jr. South Glens Falls 15. Matthew Rounds-Fr. Burnt Hills
6. Noah Greski-Jr. Scotia-Glenville 16. Sean Hendricks-Jr. C.B.A.
7. Dante Ubriaco-Sr. Burnt Hills 17. Sam Bordeau-Sr. Glens Falls
8. Kyle Ostrander-Sr. Scotia-Glenville 18. Alex Brooks-Sr. Mohonasen
9. Mikhail Troyan-Sr. Burnt Hills 19. Mike Pino-Jr. Scotia-Glenville
10. Vishal Hada-Sr. Albany Academy 20. Jay Madan-Jr. Albany Academy

 

Class B Team Preview

PL School Pts. Brief Summary of team
1. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 22 Not suffering much from graduation. Return the top 3 runners from last year. Should easily win seventh straight sectional title.
2. Scotia-Glenville 67 Strong top three and have four in the top 20 but need a little bit more from their back end
3. Mohonasen 97 Solid number one but need their second through fifth to close the gap if they want to challenge for second
4. C.B.A. 122 Young returning team with two in the top 20 could surprise some teams if their back end matures quickly
5. Albany Academy 138 Solid top two who are both in the top 20 but need big improvements from their 3rd through 5th runners to move up.
6. Averill Park 153 No one returning in the top 20 and yet, could move up and challenge for 3rd and 4th as their 1-5 spread is pretty good
7. South Glens Falls 187 Solid number one with Leininger but rest of the team needs to close the gap to him
8. Glens Falls 217 Bordeau is a top 20 returning runner but 3rd through 5th runners need to improve
9. Amsterdam 251 Probably glad to be back down in Class A with Dzikowicz in the top 20. Rest of tem need to close the gap to him
10. Schalmont 254 Were crushed by graduation after placing 3rd last year. Still have good numbers to work with
11. Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 300 They won a State Championship seven years ago. Isn't it about time they're put down to Class C now?
12. Cohoes inc. Incomplete last year but look to have a complete team this year
12. Hudson Falls inc. See Cohoes
12. Lansingburgh inc. Also see Cohoes

 

Boys Class C

    

What to Look For: LaSalle moved down to Class C last year and by the end of the year gave Coach John Leonard his first sectionals title in cross country. Last year they snuck up on everyone as I had them ranked 7th in the preseason last year but were boosted by a young freshman and  few seniors that put things together for their last season. This year they will not be sneaking up on anyone as that young freshmen, Gitch Hayes, is now a sophomore and has just enough to compliment him to win back to back titles. It will not be as easy as it was last year as Broadalbin-Perth returns four in the top 20 and may have just enough in its back end to win their first sectional title since 2010. Ichabod Crane brings back a bunch from last year but need them to move up into the top 20. If they can do that, then they could also be in the mix. Individually, LaSalle's Hayes brings back the top time from last year and was in the mid 16's. Fonda-Fultonville's Shane Viscosi is the only other returning runner that was under 17 minutes and my challenge him. Stillwater's John Gannon and Broadalbin Perth's Micah Smith are the only other runners in the low 17's last year.

 

Top 20 Class C Returning Individuals

1. Gitch Hayes-So. LaSalle 11. Jonah Stewart-Jr. Schuylerville
2. Shane Viscosi-Jr. Fonda-Fultonville 12. Daniel Dylong-Jr. Broadalbin-Perth
3. John Gannon-Sr. Stillwater 13. Dylan Esslin-Fr. Voorheesville
4. Micah Smith-Sr. Broadalbin-Perth 14. Gianni Gabriel-So. LaSalle
5. Gabe Lucarelli-Jr. LaSalle 15. Eli Russo-8th Taconic Hills
6. Manuel Calvo-Jr. Greenville 16. Connor Couperus-Fr. Broadalbin-Perth
7. Paul Barber-Sr. Catholic Central 17. Michael Vecellio-Sr. Ichabod Crane
8. Dante DiGiovanni-Sr. Cairo-Durham 18. Owen Burnham-Jr. Granville/Whitehall
9. Spencer Daley-Sr. Catholic Central 19. Antonio Zevola-Sr. Broadalbin-Perth
10. Louis Warner-Jr Ichabod Crane 20. Charlie Foote-So. Cobleskill-Richmondville

 

Class C Team Preview

PL School Pts. Brief Summary of team
1. LaSalle 71 Having the top returning runner helps their chance to repeat as champs but need help from their back end to do it
2. Broadalbin-Perth 78 Return three in the top 20. Could have enough to win it all but need their 4th and 5th to close the gap to their top 3
3. Ichabod Crane 122 Solid top two but need their third through fifth to close the gap. Could sneak in there as they have the best depth in the class
4. Stillwater 155 Have a top runner with Gannon but need help from the rest of the team if they want to move up
5. Catholic Central 197 Solid top two with Barber and Daley both in the top 10 but need big help from their back end if they want to crack the top three
6. Cobleskill-Richmondville 202 Foote is the only runner in the top 20 but top 4 is a small spread. Need their fifth to move close to their top 4
7. Schuylerville 209 Lost some good runners to graduation but depth could help them move up this year with Stewart returning in the top 20
8. Voorheesville 226 Losing state qualifier Evan Esslin hurts a lot. Team will look to run more of group this year
9. Greenville 232 Graduation hurt them but top 10 runner Calvo will help their score. Need more from their 4th and 5th
10. Fonda-Fultonville 273 Pretty good top three with Viscosi returning as one of the top runners in "C's". 4th and 5th will need to close the gap though
11. Corinth 310 Top runner is in the 40's so they'll need to see a small 1-5 spread if they want to imrpove
12. Johnstown 312 Glad to fundraise enough for a team. Very similar to Corinth as their top runner is in the 40's and will need improvements
13. Canajoharie/Fort Plain 336 Top runner is just outside the top 20 but rest of the team is a bit back and will need to close the spread
14. Ravena 340 Top two are both in the 40's but 4th and 5th runners need to close the gap to their top2 if they want to move up
15. Taconic Hills 413 8th grader Russo leads the team and is a top 20 runner but everyone else is a bit behind and will need to improve
16. Coxsackie-Athens 436 Only have four returning but giving them the benefit of the doubt. Top runner is in the 60's
17. Tamarac 462 Top two runners are in the top 50 but 3rd through 5th are a bit back and will need to close the gap
18. Rensselaer/Doane Stuart 471 Only have four returning but should have at least five runners. 4th and 5th will need to close the gap to their 3rd runner
19. Granville/Whitehall 478 Burnham returns as a top 20 runner but rest of the team is way behind him and need big improvements
20. Greenwich 491 Howard graduating is a big loss but will probably finish better than this spot with Bruce Gregg returning after a year hiatus
21. Cairo-Durham 523 DiGiovanni is a top 10 runner in Class C but rest of the team is outside the top 100
22. Catskill 581 Only have four retuning with top runner in the 80's a rest of the team outside the top 100
23. Hudson 628 Only have four retuning with their top runner ranked 98th
24. Mechanicville 700 Depends on who returns to the team and how much improved they are this year
25. Hoosick Falls inc. May have a full team this year
25. Watervliet inc. May not have a team this year

 

Boys Class D

 

What to Look For: Defending Champion Maple Hill lost a bit from last year's team but still return three in the top 10. That gives Lake George the slight edge for the title with four runners in the top 12. Will probably come down to Maple Hill's 4th and 5th runners compared to Lake George's 5th runner. Berlin could be a dark horse if both teams falter and their fourth and fifth can move up. Individually, Duanesburg's Andrew Drescher is almost a minute ahead of everyone else and is a huge favorite as he is in the low 16's and no other returning runner cracked 17 minutes last year. Maple Hill's Noah Albanese just missed dropping under 17 minutes last year and is the favorite for second. Galway's Holden Decker and  Lake George's Jake O'Keefe should battle it out for third.

 

Top 20 Class D Returning Individuals

1. Andrew Drescher-Sr. Duanesburg 11. Isaac Harrick-So. Lake George
2. Noah Albanese-Sr. Maple Hill 12. Jack Unkauf-Sr. Lake George
3. Holden Decker-Sr. Galway 13. Austin Lints-Sr. Schoharie
4. Jake O'Keefe-So. Lake George 14. Matt Kluck-So. Berlin
5. Connor Jarvis-Jr. Argyle/Fort Edward 15. Jon Fraser-Sr. Hadley-Luzerne
6. Caleb Jeralds-Sr. Chatham 16. Jack Flowers-Sr. Berlin
7. Joseph Cocozza-Sr. Lake George 17. George Atanasova-Sr. Duanesburg
8. Langford Maxwell-Jr. Chatham 18. Brandon Bunagy-Jr. Berne-Knox-Westerlo
9. Reese Steele-Sr. Maple Hill 19. Gavin Smith-Jr. North Warren/Johnsburg
10. Nathan Shader-Jr. Maple Hill 20. Logan Reynolds-So. Hartford

 

Class D Team Preview

PL School Pts. Brief Summary of team
1. Lake George 61 Solid top 4 that are all in the top 12. Will want their 5th runner to close the gap to their 4th runner to seal the deal and give their school their first sectional title since 2005
2. Maple Hill 80 Won 3 out of the last 4 titles but graduation hit them but with three in the top 10 they could still repeat as champion if their 4th and 5th imrpove
3. Berlin 100 Top two are in the top 20 but will need just a little more from their back end if they want to challenge for the title
4. Duanesburg 118 Drescher is the top returning runner in Class D and Gall is in the top 20 but their 4th and 5th will need to close the gap
5. Chatham 155 Moving back down to Class D and have a solid top two with both in the top 10. 3rd through 5th a bit back and will need to imrpove
6. North Warren/Johnsburg 184 No longer have Olsen to give them that one point. Smith is in the top 20 but 4th and 5th will need to improve
7. Warrensburg/Bolton 242 Top runner is just outside the top 20 and will need their 3rd though 5th runners close to their number two
8. Galway 252 Decker is one of the top runners in Class D but may not have five runners for a complete team
9. Argyle/Fort Edward 257 Jarvis is a returning top 5 runner but rest of the team is a bit behind and will need to improve and close the gap to him
10. Hadley-Luzerne 270 Graduation hit them hard but still have Fraser in the top 20. Rest of the team need to improve though
11. Hartford 273 Reynolds cracks the top 20 but rest of the team is behind. 4th and 5th need to close the gap to their 3rd runner
12. Saratoga Catholic 274 Big hit by graduation. Top runner is in the 30's and will need help from their back end if they want to improve
13. Schoharie 286 Solid number one with Lints in the top 20 but with only four retuning they will need help from their back end to move up
14. Hawthorne Valley 316 Top runner cracks the top 30 but rest of the team are in the 60's and 70's and will have to close the gap
15. Germantown 356 Top runner in the 40's with the rest of the team in the 70's and 80's and will need to see improvements from them
16. Berne-Knox-Westerlo inc. Should have a full team this year but will still need to see improvements, especially from their back end
16. Mayfield inc. Only have three runners back
16. Mekeel Christian inc. Only have one runner back from last year
16. OESJ inc. Only return one runner from last year but may have a full team this year