Category: Cross country

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Two Section 2 coaches pass away over the weekend

Edited on Jan. 23, 2019, at 1:25 p.m.

Mike Ambrosio, Frank DeMasi were long-time coaches and physical education teachers at their respective schools

By ROB JONAS

Former Colonie varsity football coach Mike Ambrosio and current Duanesburg cross country coach Frank DeMasi passed away over the holiday weekend from heart attacks.

“Last couple of days have been terrible,” said Joseph Guardino, Colonie Central High School Athletic Director. “This was not anywhere forseen in any way. He was still very active with us.”

Ambrosio, 64, was Colonie’s varsity football coach from 1997 to 2011, guiding the Garnet Raiders to three Section 2 Super Bowls. DeMasi coached cross country at Duanesburg from 1998 until his passing Sunday. Continue reading “Two Section 2 coaches pass away over the weekend” →

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Three Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake boys cross country runners named first team All-State by sportswriters association

Cross Country Sectionals-28Three Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake boys cross country team members were named Class B first team All-State runners by the New York State Sportswriters Association Tuesday, Dec. 18.

Seniors Tyler Berg, Aidan Gillooley and Evan Brennan joined Runner of the Year Parker Stokes (Maine-Endwell), Ryan Guerci (Nanuet), Sam Lawler (Pittsford Mendon) and Jack Rosencrans (North Shore) in receiving first team honors. Senior Nick Hunziker was named to the second team, and junior Kevin Board received fourth team honors. Junior David Metacarpa was an honorable mention. Continue reading “Three Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake boys cross country runners named first team All-State by sportswriters association” →

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Cross country: Kelsey Chmiel named Senior of the Year in New York State

Saratoga Springs’ Kelsey Chmiel was named Senior of the Year by the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports (NYSSCOGS) when it released its All-State teams in girls cross country.

Chmiel led the Blue Streaks to the Section 2 and New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A titles this season. She won the Section 2 title and placed second to North Rockland’s Katelyn Tuohy – who was named the Overall Runner of the Year – at the state meet.

Additionally, Saratoga’s Ella Kurto was named Freshman of the Year by NYSSCOGS. Chmiel and Kurto were two of the seven Class A runners to receive first team honors. Continue reading “Cross country: Kelsey Chmiel named Senior of the Year in New York State” →

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Cross country: Saratoga Springs, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake qualify for Nike Team Nationals

WAPPINGERS FALLS – The Saratoga Springs girls and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake boys cross country teams punched their tickets to this year’s Nike Team Nationals with strong performances at the New York Regionals Saturday, Nov. 24, at Bowdoin Park.

Racing as Kinetic, Saratoga Springs edged Manlius XC 63-65 to win the girls championship division and earn one of two automatic berths to the national meet, held in Portland, Oregon. Kelsey Chmiel led Saratoga with a third-place finish in a time of 18:06.3, while Ella Kurto (11th place, 18:40.8), McKinley Wheeler (24th place, 19:30.0) and Emily Bush (25th place, 19:34.7) contributed top-25 times. Continue reading “Cross country: Saratoga Springs, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake qualify for Nike Team Nationals” →

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Snow cancels Federation cross country championships

The annual New York State Federation Cross Country Championships scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17, have been cancelled due to the snowstorm that hit Thursday into Friday.

Approximately a foot of snow fell in the Poughkeepsie area, including at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, where the Federation meet is held. Due to the amount of snow that fell and the fact that the course is also scheduled to host the Nike Team Nationals New York Regional Saturday, Nov. 24, officials decided to cancel the race.

Seven Section 2 teams were scheduled to compete at the Federation meet – Bethlehem, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Niskayuna, Saratoga Springs and Shaker on the girls’ side, and Ballston Spa and Shaker on the boys’ side. Additionally, the following individuals were slated to compete:

Girls – Faith Demars (Ballston Spa), Kate Sherman (Mohonasen), Kathryn Tenney (Colonie)

Boys – Marty Dolan (Niskayuna), Evan Ensslin (Voorheesville), Liam Danaher (Columbia)

This is the first time the Federation meet has been cancelled ahead of the race due to weather.

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Three Section 2 cross country teams claim titles at NYSPHSAA meet

KINGS PARK – It was a good day for Section 2 at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championships Saturday, Nov. 10, at Sunken Meadow State Park.

Saratoga Springs ended Fayetteville-Manlius’ 12-year reign as the girls Class A team champion by edging the Section 3 powerhouse 46-47, and in the process won its first state title since 2005. Kelsey Chmiel led the Blue Streaks with a second-place finish in a time of 17:20.6, 18.5 seconds behind individual champion Katelyn Touhy (North Rockland). Ella Kurto (sixth place, 18:35.3) and Emily Bush (21st, 19:26.1) also landed in the top 25 for Saratoga Springs. Continue reading “Three Section 2 cross country teams claim titles at NYSPHSAA meet” →

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Cross country state championships preview: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake boys, Saratoga Springs and Greenwich girls among teams favored to win

By ROB JONAS

Three Section 2 teams are among the favorites to claim titles at Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championships at Sunken Meadow State Park on Long Island.

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake boys team has its sights set on the Class B title after completing an impressive regular season, capped by a dominating performance at the Section 2 Championships Nov. 2. The Spartans claimed five of the top six places and had seven runners finish in the top 10 to breeze to the Sectional title by a margin of 65 points. Continue reading “Cross country state championships preview: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake boys, Saratoga Springs and Greenwich girls among teams favored to win” →

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A look back at the Section 2 Cross Country Championships

By ROB JONAS

SARATOGA SPRINGS – One race lived up to its pre-event billing, while another showdown never materialized at Friday’s Section 2 Cross Country Championships at a soggy Saratoga Spa State Park.

The Class A boys race turned into a battle royale between Shenendehowa and Saratoga Springs, with the Plainsmen pulling out a three-point victory over the Blue Streaks, 60-63. Saratoga had two of the top four runners in the race, but Shen’s pack mentality proved to be the deciding factor.

“Our sixth and seventh runners beat Saratoga’s fifth runner. That was the game right there,” said Shen boys head coach Lance Jordan. Continue reading “A look back at the Section 2 Cross Country Championships” →

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Scenes from the Section 2 Cross Country Championships

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Section 2 Cross Country Championships took place Friday, Nov. 2, at Saratoga Spa State Park. The winning teams in Class A, B, D and the merged C-CC standings earned automatic berths into next Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships at Sunken Meadow State Park on Long Island, as did the top five runners not affiliated with any of the championship teams. Continue reading “Scenes from the Section 2 Cross Country Championships” →

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Duanesburg, Fonda-Fultonville prevail at Western Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships

FORT PLAIN – Duanesburg claimed the girls team title, and Fonda-Fultonville earned the boys team title at the Western Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the Fort Plain Sports Complex.

Duanesburg placed four runners in the top 10 to win the girls team championship with 24 points. Berne-Knox-Westerlo was second with 58 points, followed by Galway in third place with 68 points and Fonda-Fultonville in fourth place with 71 points. Mayfield’s Madison Relyea claimed the individual title with a time of 18:05.90.

Likewise, Fonda-Fultonville placed four runners in the top 10 to claim the boys team championship with 35 points. Duanesburg took second place with 60 points, and Fort Plain-Canajoharie was third with 69 points. Duanesburg’s Andrew Drescher was the individual champion with a time of 16:33.31. Continue reading “Duanesburg, Fonda-Fultonville prevail at Western Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships” →