Grout Run: Braves gearing up for sectional repeat

Fonda-Fultonville defended its boys’ team championship at Saturday’s Everett T. Grout Memorial Cross Country Invitational at Central Park.

In just over a month, the Braves and their revamped lineup will be looking for another, even bigger, repeat title against the best Section II has to offer.

“We always aim for sectionals,” said Fonda-Fultonville coach Mark Therrien, who graduated four of his top seven, including 2010 all-state runners Zak Godfrey and Kyle Geniti. “We’ve got a bunch of kids with motivation, a proud bunch of kids. Deep down, they want to prove that they can do it again.”

The reigning two-time Section II Class C champions did nothing to diminish their hopes with a two-point victory over Rhinebeck at the 73rd Grout festival. Mike Scott covered the 2.75-mile terrain of grass, dirt and paved road with the day’s fastest time of 13:44.58 to win the Division C race, leading four Braves in the top 12.

Fonda-Fultonville came into the meet with a No. 6 state Class C rank, and scored 49 points. Rhineback, with a No. 4 state rank, totaled 51.

“This is was a good measuring stick to see where we are. This was verification to the kids,” said Therrien. “We knew Rhinebeck was going to be in the race. We found out we’re a little better than them.”

The Braves proved to be the best in the state late last fall, securing their second New York Class C banner in six years when Scott placed a team-best 16th and Matt Hoffman followed in 22nd.

“We’ve got a new group of guys, but we can still get things done,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman placed fourth, Tyler Angioli and Jimmy Westman took 11th and 12th, respectively, and Omijah Piening ran 21st Saturday as the Braves added another invitational win to their collection that includes firsts at Galway and Voorheesville. In Colonial Council meets, the Braves haven’t had a close call.

“We’ve got three real good kids back. All three ran at states last year. They were a big part of our winning last year,” Therrien said of Scott, Hoffman and Angioli. “We’ve also got Westman back, and he was a state meet alternate. We’re still working on a fifth guy.”

Scott proved to be the best guy in a group of 86 runners, with the sen­ior making a late move to improve a spot after last year’s runner-up performance. Johnny Marvin of Rhinebeck was second, and Jacob Urys of Mekeel Christian Academy placed third.

“I just wanted to stay on him [Marvin], get around him right before the [last] hill, and hold him off,” Scott said after his third invit­ational win this season. “When I was going down the hill, I told myself, ‘I have to give it everything.’ ”

“He dogged him [Marvin] all the way,” Therien said. “He kept on him.”

The win was Smith’s third in eight days, following a triumph at Galway’s invy at Bob’s Tree Farm and another at Cohoes, where he set a course record. Smith’s 13:44.58 was a Grout Division C record.

“It was a good day for me and the team,” Smith said.

The Braves could have a lot more of them.

“We’re going to do the best we can in the council, and hopefully, we can repeat in sectionals,” said Hoffman, who, like Scott, made last year’s all-state team. “Right now, we’re working hard in practice to put ourselves in a position to have a chance to do that.”

Fonda-Fultonville also topped Rhinebeck in the girls’ Division C race, scoring 55 points to win by six. Granville’s Alicia Clark was first with the girls’ best time of the day, a Division C-record 15:48.91, while Kim Geniti, Samantha Phelps and Jamie Kasza paced the Braves in fourth, eight and ninth, respectively.

Both Division I races saw runners prevail at an invitational event for the first time. Bethlehem senior Lucas Carpinello clocked a winning 13:52.68, and Shaker eighth-grader Maryanna Lansing closed in a victorious 16:01.61.

An indoor and outdoor middle- distance specialist, Carpinello finished off his win with a sup­erb sprint over the final 150-yard straightaway after negotiating the choppy hill through the woods.

“I’ve been running cross country since I was in seventh grade. One and a half miles fit me when I was younger, but when I moved up to the longer distances, I did not adjust well. I had a tough sophomore and junior year. This year, I’m more used to to it,” said Carpinello. “I’m trying to progress as a distance runner.”

Carpinello’s best invy finish was a second at Fort Plain before his breakthrough effort that led Bethlehem to the Division I team championship.

“If you asked me at the beginning of the season if I’d win an invit­ational, I would have said, ‘Heck, no,’ ” Carpinello said with a laugh. “This is a big step for me.”

Lansing held off a trio of Connetquot runners to get her win after runner-up performances at the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and Shaker meets.

“We went on and off [for the lead], and I started pulling away about a mile and a half in,” said Lansing. “It was a little nerve-wracking being ahead. I was thinking, ‘I had to push it.’ ”

Philo Germano of Albany won the boys’ Division II race (14:03.82) and Broadalbin-Perth, in a great display of stamina, claimed the team prize with 44 points.

The Patriots started the Division I race and were called off the course with a mile and a quarter elapsed after coach Jeff Richards realized it was not their scheduled race.

“I was out with our girls. Norm­ally, I’m at the line 10 minutes early, but I got there late and thought it was our race,” Richards said. “I tried to catch them earlier, but they went out too fast.”

Justin Ferguson placed second for the Patriots, Austin Becker ran third and four of the teammates finished in the top 21.

“I told my guys we have a choice. We can be laughed at, or we can have the last laugh,” said Richards.

Colonie won the girls’ Division II team title with 37 points. Jackie Malecki placed third for Colonie after copping Division I honors last year .

Streaks defend

Estela Smith placed sixth (17:55.44), Saratoga Springs had three girls in the top 20 and the Blue Streaks defended their Race of Champions title at the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, N.C.

Saratoga finished with 64 points, Tatnall School, Del., had 72 and Assumption, Ky., totaled 121.

Taylor Driscoll placed 11th (18:02.78) and Keelin Hollowood took 12th (18:03.99) over the 5,000-meter course for the Blue Streaks. Katie Treichel was 20th and Sarah Morin was 33rd.

Jay Navin placed second (16:07.72), Spencer Patterson ran third (16:07.73) and the Saratoga boys scored 48 points to win the Red Division over Amherst, Mass.

Saratoga also got points from Brent Freestone, Jonathan Moore and Travis Briggs, who finished ninth, 16th and 20th, respectively.

BH-BL, Shaker prevail

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake girls and Shaker boys notched team wins, and each had an individual champion at the McQuaid Invit­ational in Rochester.

Burnt Hills defended its Class AA title behind Dani Martino, who won by eight seconds in 18:10 after placing third last year as a freshman. Schuyler Pruyn ran third for BH-BL, Alyssa Drapeau was sixth, Jordan Casey was seventh and Allison Fernandez was 12th in the three-mile event.

The Spartans scored 28 points to East Aurora’s 59.

Shaker captured the Class AAA race, with Mike Libruk winning by three seconds in 15:28, and Jon Vallecorsa finishing fifth. Adam Schwerz­feier was 19th, Ryan Recchia was 22nd and Juan Alvarez was 32nd for the Blue Bison, who had 79 points to Rush-Henrietta’s 82.

The Burnt Hills boys were third in the Class AA race, and Spartans’ senior Buddy Herkenham was third individually (15:44). Dan Fernandez was 18th for BH-BL, Joe Chapman was 26th, Jared Short was 38th and Joe Girard was 51st.

“Libruk ran a great race with a great finish,” BH-BL coach Chip Button said of the Shaker senior. “He was flying.”

GROUT RUN

BOYS

Division I

Teams: Bethlehem 49, Washingtonville 61, Bayport-Blue Point 77, Guilderland 106, Yorktown 149, Glens Falls 179, Gloversville 183, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk 187, Amsterdam 220, Johnstown 255.

Individuals: Lucas Carpinello (BC), 13:52.68; Adam LaFemina (BBP), 13:59.34; Connor Quinn (Wash), 15:05.73; James Shea (York), 14:08.74; Ben Fishbein (BC), 14:10.10; Lukas Vasadi (Wash), 14:16.45; Jeremy White (Wash), 14:19.97; Rob Vetri (BBP), 14:23.71; John Knox (Glove), 14:28.65; Matt Crawford (BC), 14:39.47; John Antonacci (BBP), 14:40.05; Alex Campione (Guild), 14:41.85; Alex Gifford (Glove), 14:43.69; Hosh Lee (GF), 14:51.82; Griffith Eddy (RCS), 15:53.46; Chris Shaw (BC), 14:54.34; Tom Quackenbush (BC), 14:56.67; Nick Raponi (Amst), 14:56.95; Dan Cocchiara (Wash), 14:59.41; Matthew Bordonaro (York), 15:00.13.

Division II

Teams: Broadalbin-Perth 44, Connetquot 62, Middletown 71, Niskayuna 96, Mohonasen 157, Schalmont 180, Albany 185, Schenectady 185, LaSalle 185.

Individuals: Philo Germano (Alb), 14:03.82; Justin Ferguson (BP), 14:10.26; Austin Becker (BP), 14:13.87; Niall Williams (Nisk), 14:22.00; Bobby Kelly (Conn), 14:30.12; Liam Kelly (Conn), 14:32.94; Alex Shodai (Midd), 14:38.75; Greg Bogdan (BP), 14:44.55; Rodolpho Hieto (Midd), 14:49.33; Tom McNamee (Conn), 15:53.12; James Vainuskas (BP), 14:58.06; Alex Isabelle (LSI), 14:59.27; Kevin Dixon (Mohon), 15:00.81; Andrew Steenburgh (Nisk), 15:02.45; Sean Gillis (Midd), 15:04.81; Dominick Brion (Nisk), 15:06.07; Brian Schanel (Conn), 15:23.27; Robert Lopez (Midd), 15:23.78; Jeff Budka (Schal), 15:26.53; Joe Kelly (BP), 15:30.06.

Division C

Teams: Fonda-Fultonville 49, Rhinebeck 51, Berlin 103, Dover Plains 109, Mekeel Christian Academy 120, Catskill 172, Maple Hill 186, Mechanicville 220, North Warren 232, Stillwater 248, Greenville 296, Granville 321.

Individuals: Mike Scott (FF), 13:44.58; Johnny Marvin (Rh), 13:47.27; Jacob Urys (MCA), 13:59.58; Matt Hoffman (FF), 13:59.58; Jordan Healy (MH), 14:16.85; Dante Penepent (Rh), 14:18.21; Seth Bulich (Cat), 14:23.94; Zach Karas (Rh), 14:26.98; Matt Lee (DP), 14:27.79; Corety Tate (Cat), 14:34.98; Tyler Angiolo (FF), 14:37.72; Jimmy Westman (FF), 14:39.53; Christian Gonzalez (Rh), 14:39.96; Ryun Murphy (MCA), 14:44.86; Peter Sander (DP), 15:01.28; Christopher Murphy (MCA), 15:01.98; Erik Vinner (Ber), 15:02.73; Alex French (Ber), 15:13.41; Connor Brown (Br), 15:22.49; Dan Vonschilgen (Ber), 15:25.48.

GIRLS

Division I

Teams: Connetquot 43, Shaker 44, Guilderland 63, Niskayuna 89, Yorktown 148, Amsterdam 165, Glens Falls 185, Albany 219.

Individuals: Maryanna Lansing (Shak), 16:01.61; Amy Irving (Conn), 16:08.94; Erin Melly (Conn), 16:10.94; Jessie Smillie (Conn), 16:11.57; Payton Czupil (Shak), 16:19.87; Jenna Robinson (Guild), 16:29.01; Felicia Sciortino (Nisk), 16:32.90; Shannon Trant (Nisk), 16:47.41; Anna Pickett (Guild), 16:55.75; Kerry Connors (Wash), 17:08.38; Danielle Skufca (Nisk), 17:10.39; Keyleigh Lavender (Shak), 17:15.90; Taylor Tommell (Guild), 17:22.28; Audrey Martino (Shak), 17:34.26; Laura Libruk (Shak), 17:40.58; Bridget Sullivan (Conn), 17:48.73; Anya Joynt (Guild), 17:55.82; Raheema Robinson (Wash), 17:57.54; Hannah Madison (Shak), 17:58.64; Megan Ottati (Amst), 17:59.07.

Division II

Teams: Colonie 37, Bayport-Blue Point 50, Bethlehem 71, Broadalbin-Perth 142, Schalmont 166, Gloversville 169, Middletown 173, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk 177, Schenectady 212, Hudson Falls 255.

Individuals: Megan Snyder (BBP), 16:07.00; Courtney Dooley (BBP), 16:24.74; Jackie Malecki (Col), 16:31.77; Danica Jensen (BC), 16:45.76; Lindsay Cheu (BC), 16:46.50; Amber Goodspeed (Midd), 16:48.87; Katie Schillaci (Col), 16:56.88; Carolyn Pellegrini (Col), 17:05.86; Cara Sherman (Mohon), 17:20.55; Shannen Kerin (Col), 17:24.87; Kirsten Kaminski (Col), 17:26.65; Alexxa Guerrero (Midd), 17:31.49; Coreena Monroe (BP), 17:34.25; Taylor Darby (BBP), 17:37.06; Shannon O’Hara (BBP), 17:40.62; Megan Davitt (BC), 17:43.21; Alyssa Alex (Schal), 17:48.23; Alicia Bousa (Col), 17:48.87; Kelly Lawton (Glove), 17:49.87; Alaina Kreuger (RCS), 17:53.49.

Division C

Teams: Fonda-Fultonville 55, Rhinebeck 61, Maple Hill 70, Mechanicville 93, North Warren 101, Galway 145, Catskill 153, Dover Plains 154.

Individuals: Alicia Clark (Gran), 15:48.91; Megan Erickson (NW), 16:25.08; Victoria Hathaway (Still), 16:49.03; Kimberly Geniti (FF), 17:10.93; Hannah Riordan (MH), 17:26.45; Lillian Gavio (Rh), 17:27.35; Arissa Spitainy (Mech), 17:28.24; Samantha Phelps (FF), 17:32.33; Jamie Kasza (FF), 17:39.99; Kiera Warner (NW), 17:48.90; Kelly Pasco (MH), 17:54.19; Kali DeMarco (Mech), 18:00.36; Ali Gay (Rh), 18:01.67; Kelsey Oglesby (MH), 18:11.69; Catherine Clarke (Rh), 18:14.82; Carly Littlejohn (FF), 18:24.02; Anna Davies (Cat), 18:28.64; Annie Miglino ((Rh), 18:32.82; Carol Tyson (Rh), 18:34.21; Ciara Fisher (Duanes), 18:34.83.

Categories: High School Sports