The Young And The Relentless
Tri-Valley Welcomes Modified And Varsity Area Harriers To Crisp Fall Meandering Run; Joe Klein and Johnson Twin Sisters Are Monticello Individual Winners; Liberty Boys, Montie Girls Tops In Team Honors
Boys Team Scores: Liberty 20, Monticello 41; Liberty 18, LM 45; Liberty 15, Tri-Valley 50; Monticello 15, T-V 50; Livingston Manor 15, TV 50; LM 28, Mont 29
Girls Teams Scores; Monticello 15, Liberty 50; Monticello 15, Tri-Valley 50
By RICHARD A. ROSS
rross@sportsinsightsny.com
Hardy harriers of the day (Clockwise) Monticello's Joe Klein edges out Liberty's Kane Sauchuk in the boys varsity race while the Johnson sisters, Camryn and Sidney hold sway in the girls race with an identical finish. Tri-Valley's Robin Dymond wins the girls modified tilt. Sullivan West's Jackson Haberli gives his all as he takes second in the boys race. Liberty's Nick Skindzier wins the boys modified clash.
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY—Given the immense demands of trying to keep up with varsity sports across the county I am forced to eschew the wonderful efforts put forth by the younger set of athletes who comprise modified and junior varsity teams.
I know I’m missing out on plenty as by and large it is generally not until kids reach the varsity level that they enter my purview.
Cross-country is one of those sports that can catapult younger athletes to the forefront as they can break into the varsity ranks as early as seventh or eighth grade.
In my most recent blog about the meet held in Liberty won by Monticello eighth grade twins Camryn and Sidney Johnson, I noted how quickly young runners can burst upon the scene. The dynamic duo in royal blue would continue their fall barnstorming tour with a win in this day’s girls varsity race hosted by Tri-Valley and once again their story would continue to be a compelling one.
But this day would afford me a look at even younger contenders as the Bears were re-opening their scenic course to both modified and varsity runners on a gorgeous October 4 afternoon.
The start of the boys modified race
Watching the modified kids from Tri-Valley, Liberty, Sullivan West, Monticello and Fallsburg, it gave me great pleasure to stand and photograph the cadre of young harriers as they traversed over hill and dale and finished up on Tri-Valley’s legendary track.
Fallsburg’s entry into the modified circuit adds a fine pool of talent to the mix. Seeing Livingston Manor boys runners out in force in the subsequent varsity race was uplifting as well.
The modified race featured a near-photo finish as Liberty’s Nick Skindzier (9:40.6) edged out Sullivan West’s Jackson Haberli (9:58) in the boys race with Tri-Valley’s Robin Dymond (9:48) finishing in between the two boys to capture the girls individual title over the 1.5 mile course.
The list of finishers in the modified races appears in the accompanying photo album which can be visited by clicking on HOT SHOTS at the top of this page or by visiting www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
The field for the varsity race was not as deep as anticipated as Eldred and Sullivan West did not send their teams to the ramble. Tri-Valley’s varsity was MIA as well as they were slated for a big meet at Delhi the following day.
The Livingston Manor contingent.
That left Monticello, Liberty and Livingston Manor to duke it out. Setting off at a fast clip as he did recently in his third place finish against Oneonta, Monticello’s Joe Klein (18:57) outpaced Liberty’s Kane Sauchuk (19:33) over the 3.1 mile course.
Klein was delighted to emerge as the day’s victor but as Coach Pete Wysochanski had mentioned to me as the up-and-coming harrier had zoomed by in the lead midway through the race, a quick pace has been Klein’s modus operandi this fall.
Finishing 18th out of 65 runners at Washingtonville with one shoe missing in action was a preview of coming attractions. Seeing him start quickly at Oneonta, Wysochanski wondered if he could maintain the pace. He did then and he did it again on this day.
“It was pretty rocky and muddy. I rolled my ankle a little bit. At Oneonta I thought I went out a little too fast but I tried to keep up the pace,” said the three-season runner who will move on to indoor and outdoor track as the year moves on apace.
Monticello's Joe Klein looking to establish a new world order in local finishes.
In winter his running is done in tandem with downhill skiing. “I’ll probably run a little more this winter,” he said. In track Klein runs the 4×800, the mile, the two-mile and the steeplechase. The cross-country season is fabulous preparation for the rigors of those distance races in the spring. Asked about being part of Monticello’s Division championship last year, the Monties’ second straight title, Klein said, “It was a lot of fun.”
Liberty secured team honors in the boys race as Sauchuk’s second place finish was abetted by Dominic Ahrend (20:00) in third, Ray Malloy (21:05) in fifth and Vinny Webb (21:07 in sixth. Livingston Manor’s Neil Mock (21:00) took fourth. Rounding out the top ten were more Liberty runners with Matt Rourke (21:10) and Eric Cuellar (21:27) taking seventh and eighth respectively. Monticello’s Chris Marodi (21:42) and Bryden Fraser (21:49) were ninth and tenth. The rest of the boys results were as follows:
1- Joe Klein M 18:57
2- Kane Sauchuk L 19:33
3- Dominic Ahrend L 20:00
4- Neil Mock LM 21:00
5- Ray Malloy L 21:05
Dominic Ahrend
6- Vinney Webb L 21:07
7- Matt Rourke L 21:10
8- Erik Cuellear L 21:27
9- Chris Maroldi Mont 21:42
10 Bryden Fraser Mont 21:49
11 Jackson Krebs L 21:56
12 Dylan Taggart LM 22:01
13 Nat Tompkins TV 22:08
14 Ian Kuzrock TV 22:11
15 Evan Taggart LM 22:33
16 Robert Johnamen LM 22:48
17 Dylan Blackwell L 22:49
18 Dharamet Khangura LM 22:55
19 Ian Kolaito M 23:03
20 Mike D’Auria LM 23:52
Neil Mock
21 Terrance Lockhart 23:54
22 Tim Jones Mont 24:28
23 Josh Winters TV 24:38
24 Tom Dapp Lib 25:55
25 Max Kaplan LM 26:07
26 Dylan D’Aurio LM 26:22
27 Brandon Law Lib 26:36
28 Pete Koval Lib 27:14
29 Jon Nilsen Lib 27:42
30 Dimetrius Miranda Lm 30:54
31 Angelo Piscatelli LM 30:57
Twin Peaks
The girls race featured runners from Monticello, Liberty and a sole contender from Tri-Valley. Leading from the get-go, Montie twin eighth graders Camryn and Sidney Johnson were not pressed given the absence of runners from Sullivan West and Eldred. The twins finished in an identical 21:44 ahead of teammates Brittany Rupp (22:36), Erica Concors (23:36.2) and Ashley McEnearney (25:44) to enable the Lady Monties to easily outpoint Liberty for the team honors. Tri-Valley’s Jessica Kinney (29:42) represented T-V with her ninth place finish coming in behind Liberty’s Sierra Thomas (26:46) and Erin Kinney ( 29:42).
Sullivan West is hosting a home meet next week to which area varsity teams are invited including this day’s array. It remains to be seen however which runners will take to the course as coaches often use their discretion with the surfeit of important meets looming. Division V Tri-Valley, Livingston Manor and Eldred will have their Division championship meet at Eldred on October 18. On the same day Liberty will host Sullivan West, O’Neill and Burke for the Division IV title clash.
The girls results for this meet were as follows:
Brittany Rupp (left) and Erica Concors
1- Camryn Johnson M 21:44
2- Sydney Johnson M 21:44
3- Brittany Rupp M 23:36
4- Erica Concors M 23:36.2
5- Bryanna Sewell M 25:18
6- Ashley McEneaney M 25:44
7- Sierra Thomas L 26:46
8- Erin Kinney L 29:42
9- Jess Kinney TV 29:42
10 Amanda Dejesus L 33:40
11 Myra McConnell L 33:47
Again, for an album of photos and instructions on how to order reprints and other keepsakes, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com
