Liberty Lope
Monticello Twins Camryn and Sidney Johnson Go One-Two As Montie Girls Prevail On Liberty Loop-De-Loop; Eldred’s Hunter Proscia Is Top Boy; Port Jervis Grabs Boys Team Honors
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Monticello eighth grade twin dynamos Camryn and Sidney Johnson finished one-two to help pace the Monties to a meet win. Eldred's Hunter Proscia rounds a turn on his way towards a first-place finish just two seconds ahead of teammate Alex Campanella. State meet veterans, the duo have their sights set on returning to that forum and then some this year. Port Jervis won the boys team honors.
LIBERTY, NY—There are so many things I love about running that it would take a book to reveal them all. A s a former marathoner who views running as a quasi-religious experience, I’ll always have a fond place in my heart for the stalwart athletes who challenge themselves to give more on in each successive race.
I may have transferred my athletic verve to the water but I’ll never relinquish the powerful memories I have from my running years.
It struck me as I watched Monticello eighth grade twin sisters Camryn and Sidney Johnson holding sway on the Liberty cross-country course, just how quickly young runners burst upon the scene and alter the landscape. Can you say Aisling Cuffe?
The girls get off to a fast start
The former Cornwall and current Stanford runner was a NYS and national high school Champion. She now looms large on the college circuit and perhaps some day as an Olympian.
Cuffe began her meteoric rise to fame as a diminutive middle schooler as did many fine runners from Sullivan County too numerous to mention. “Who is that kid?” was the comment of many onlookers when Cuffe made her debut.
Those same question is being asked again locally, only in plural form (kids), specifically as it pertains to the Johnson twins.
I first took notice of the identical duo last spring at a track meet. As that day was all about the Monticello boys clinching their second straight Division III title, their fine running was obviously overshadowed.
But it’s fall now and the twins who I have now learned to distinguish by dint of minor birthmarks showed their stuff last week at Monticello. But this time out, without another eighth grader tearing it up, namely Tri-Valley’s Autumn Bender, the dynamic duo finished one-two.
Had Sullivan West’s Dani Myers not been running with an aggravated arch problem excacerbated by a raw top of her foot that suffered when tape from last week’s meet was removed, the chances are the order of finish might have been altered, but who’s to say.
Major props to Liberty Coach Ralph Bressler for his impeccable race organization and management. I like the Liberty Course which offers photo views at different points with differing backdrops. The kids seem to like it too.
The Monticello girls won team honors as they beat Sullivan West, Eldred and Port Jervis on the 2.8 mile course. Camryn Johnson (19:33) and Sidney Johnson (19:52) outpaced Dani Myers (20:00) and SW freshman Kelsey Dutton (20:17). Another rising young star, Sullivan West’s Courtney Meyerer (21:18) rounded out the top five .
The boys start off at a blistering pace
Looking to interview Camryn after the race, I inadvertently started talking to Sidney instead who demurely failed to mention my mis-identification. No problem. Once I was alerted by Coach Pete Wysochanski, I set off in search of the race winner to get her views on how things went. Here’s what each sister had to say:
Sidney: “The race was good today. Over the summer we ran every day with our grandpa. I’m thinking I will run indoor track. My sister and I have been running since we were little girls.”
Camryn: “I try to run really hard both going up and down the hills. Running downhill is a little scary because II worry I might fall,” she added echoing her sister’s remarks. Standing with the two of them together I learned the trick on telling them apart. Camryn has small birthmark on her forehead; Sidney’s is on throat. Camryn’s hair flies up higher when they run. I’ll have to remember this!
The girls results were as follows:: Monticello (Mont) – d. Sullivan West 27-28; d. Eldred 18-40; d. Port Jervis 15-50; d. Liberty 15-45; Sullivan West (SW) – d. Eldred 17-41; d. Port Jervis 15-50; d. Liberty 15-45; Eldred (Eld) – d. Port Jervis 15-50; d. Liberty 20-35; Liberty (Lib) – d. Port Jervis (PJ) 15-50.
Individual (2.8 miles): 1. Camryn Johnson (Mont) 19:33; 2. Sydney Johnson (Mont) 19:52; 3. Dani Myers (SW) 20:00; 4. Kelsey Dutton (SW) 20:17; 5. Courtney Meyerer (SW) 21:18; 6. Christine Donnelly (Eld) 21:40; 7. Erica Concors (Mont) 21:55; 8. Rosa Martinez (SW) 22:20; 9. Brittany Rupp (Mont) 22:22; 10. Corrine VanWagner (SW) 22:25; 11. Bryana Sewell (Mont) 22:38; 12. Sara Jane Drewett (Eld) 23:01; 13. Sarah Mannion (PJ) 23:17; 14. Rachel Deppa (SW) 23:19; 15. Ashley McEnearney( Mont) 23:26; 16. Selena Hudak (Eld) 23:45; 17. Stephanie Heisler (Lib) 24:42; 18 Sierra Yhomas (Lib)24:53; 19 Jessica Schips (Eld) 25:46; 20. Kinne Erin (Lib) 26:31; 21. Tomara Bodnaruik ( E ld).27:24; 22. Kaitlyn Kellam (Lib) 27:49; 23. Amanda DeJesus (Lib )31:06; 24. Myra McConnell (Lib) 31:31 and 25. Taylor Lamerand (Lib) 32:57.
Girls Team Records: Mont 6-1 (1-0 Div. III); SW 4-3 (2-0 Div. IV); Eld 2-4 (0-0 Div. V); Lib 1-6 (0-2 Div. IV); PJ 0-7 (0-1 Div. III).
"Alexander the Great" Campanella is the top-ranked Class D runner in NYS. Last year's state meet was a downer for Campanella who had a rare off-day. He'll be back and is sure to turn heads. Campanella is currently ranked seventh overall in NYS and would love to break into the national landscape as well.
This was my first look at Eldred and of course I was fascinated to see the powerful duo of Alex Campanella and Hunter Proscia. Just another day at the office for these two who finished one-two as expected with Proscia (16:34) just ahead of Campanella (16:36) the state’s top-ranked Class D runner who is ranked seventh overall in NYS. Their order of finish was no big deal for the duo who train together, push each other relentlessly and author one of the best one-two punches in the region.
Following the win Proscia held forth on his training regimen and expectations. I’ll catch up with Alex erelong and let you know what he has to say. Proscia: “I logged a little over 500 miles this past summer, just like a year ago. That puts me just where I want to be. I didn’t want to kill myself. I want to stay fresh and stay healthy.”
Proscia was quick to put aside any significance to the order of finish between himself and Campanella. “Today we went and ran together. We wanted to go that way throughout the race and make a move when no one could see us. It just happened that I finished first. We didn’t’ really plan anything.”
Asked how he feels, Proscia who is ranked 10th in NYS Class D said, “I feel good. I can’t complain. Last year I did a little too much training and my legs got really sore. I didn’t have that kick or extra energy. I t’s hard for me to back off, especially with Alex. We really want to work off each other. It’s hard if one of us is not at practice.”
Asked about the team effort, Proscia said it was solid with Dave Powers rounding out the top three. “We actually have a full team now,” he noted, looking forward to the Division clash with powerful Seward and now, Tri-Valley which dropped down from Division IV. T-V is still Class C so they won’t figure into the sectionals, but the division race which will be held at Eldred on October 18 figures to be a classic.
Port Jervis speedster Nasson Bailey (16;34) looked impressive as he finished third. Sullivan West’s Reed Scott hung with the boys in green for much of the race but settled for fourth in 17:05. Before the race he expressed his desire to make a sincere run at a top spot. The rest of the boys results were as follows:
(PJ) – d. Liberty 17-45; d. Monticello 15-50; d. Sullivan West 15-50; d. Eldred 25-30; d. Livingston Manor 15-48; Eldred (Eld) – d. Liberty 25-32; d. Monticello 15-50; d. Sullivan West 15-50; d. Livingston Manor 24-33; Liberty (Lib) – d. Livingston Manor 19-36; d. Monticello 15-50; d. Sullivan West 15-50; Livingston Manor/Roscoe (LMR) – d. Monticello (Mont) 15-50; d. Sullivan West (SW) 15-50.
Individual (2.8 miles): 1. Hunter Proscia (Eld) 16:34; 2. Alex Campanella (Eld) 16:36; 3. Nasson Bailey (PJ) 16:46; 4. Reed Scott (SW) 17:05; 5. Joe Klein (Mont) 17:11; 6. Hans Zanger (PJ) 17:16; 7. Austin Trainor (PJ) 17:39; 8. Kane Sauchuk (Lib) 17:58; 9. MacKenzye Leroy (PJ) 18:10; 10. Stephen Branham (PJ) 18:13; 11. Neal Mock (LMR) 18:23; 12. Kobie Lane (PJ) 18:27; 13. David Powers (Eld) 18:38; 14. Erick Cuellar (Lib) 19:38; 15. Joseph Mannion (PJ) 19:46; 16 Haberli Eric SW 19:49; 17. Maas E 19:52; 18. Matt Rourke Lib 19:53; 19. Jackson Krebs Lib 19:58; 20. Joe Miraldi Mon 20:03; 21. Vinny Webbe Lib 20:12; 22. Dharamhet Kahngura LM 20:19; 23. Dillon Taggart LM 20:35; 24. Evan Taggart LM 21:02; 25. Mike Dzurica Mon 21:06; 26. Chris Lissner PJ 21:47; 27. Dale Mercado SW 21:52; 28. Robert Johaneman t LM 21:58; 29. Andrew Hersh Lib 22:07; 30. Terance Lockhart LM 22:19; 31. Ryan Keane PJ 22:44; 32. Ian Kolitis Mon 22:46; 33. Peter Koval Lib 22:50; 34. David Scultz SW 22:51; 35. Aaron Haida PJ 22:56; 36 Thomas.Dapp Lib 23:08; and 37. Dylan D’Auria LM 24:11.
Boys Team Records: PJ 6-2 (1-0 Div. III); Eld 4-4 (1-0 Div. V); Lib 6-3 (2-0 Div. IV); LMR 3-6 (0-2 Div. V); Mont 0-8 (0-1 Div. III); SW 2-6 (0-2 Div. IV).
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