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Section 2 Harrier Website Big 10 League 2003 Preview
Big 10 Boys Last Year's Team Champion: Albany High Last Year's Individual Champion: Jaime Julia (Amsterdam) Team Predictions Individual Predictions
Last year Albany High won a close one over Amsterdam and this year should be more of the same, thought I think Albany has more depth this year and that should take them to back to back titles. Last year Schenectady had a tough time getting their full team running, if they can this year then they could have an excellent shot at pulling off an upset. Individually, the reign of Jaime Julia is over and there is no clear cut favorite to take over the title. Troy's Brad Lewis has the best returning time with teammate Ryan Brown and Albany's Rick Newkirk pushing him. Schenectady's Vinnie Aceto looked good in the summer and can move in on the other three f he can stay healthy. Albany High Falcons Last year's record: 7-0 , Sectional Finish: 9th - Class A Top Returnees: Rick Newkirk-Jr., Frank Strube-Sr., Cal Egan Jr., Sean Mack-So., Alex Paley-Sr. Outlook: Return all but one from last year's league champs but they have probably the best depth in the league and that should carry them...Had four runners under 18 minutes and their 5th was just over 18 minutes...In Class A's, not sure if they can move up and farther, maybe to 7th or 8th, would need some improvements if they want to move up any more. Amsterdam Rams Last year's record: 6-1 , Sectional finish: 8th - Class A Top Returnees: Jeff Palmerino-Jr., Ruben Quinones-So., Rick Morey-Sr., Ben Briggs-So., Matthias Wells-Jr. Outlook: Losing 3-time state qualifier Jaime Julia is a big loss but still bring back a good nucleus of their team and should challenge Albany or the league title...Have good depth but need their 3rd and 4th runners to drop under 17:30 and they need a big drop from their number 5 runner who was at 19 minutes last year...I don't think they can match their 8th place finish in sectionals when their missing Julia's single digit from their scoring. Bishop Maginn Golden Griffins Last year's record: 2-5, Sectional finish: 15th - Class B Top Returnees: Tom Dansereau-Jr., Tim Adalain-Sr., Scott Daley-Sr., Joe Eaton-Sr., Andrew Barresi-Jr. Outlook: Lost their top runner who was a good number one but return everyone else...Should probable finish with the same record but will need someone to establish themselves as a number one...Not sure they can move up in Class B's but might by default from other schools losing so many runners. C.B.A. Brothers Last year's record: 0-7, Sectional finish: 16th - Class A Top Returnees: Brendan Lee-So., Kevin Peterson-Jr., Kevin Quinn-Sr., Paul Florio-Jr. Outlook: Only return four runners but should have a complete team...Lee is a good number one and had a nice track season...Rest of the team need to move their times up to move up in the league...Finished last in Class A's last year so there's only one way to go for them. Catholic Central Crusaders Last year's record: inc., Sectional finish: inc. - Class B Top Returnees: None Outlook: Didn't have any runners last year and have one varsity and 2 freshmen runners this year...Need to work on filling the lineup before worrying about league and sectional standings. LaSalle Cadets Last year's record: 3-4, Sectional finish: 14th - Class A Top Returnees: Jay O'Neil-So., Mike Costello-So., Tim Leonard-So., Tim Tyrell-Sr., Chris Smith-Sr. Outlook: Return a good group of sophomores lead by O'Neil and Costello...Tyrell had a very good track season and should improve this year...Could be a surprise in the league this year but is probably at least a year away...Should improve from their 14th place finish in Class A's last year. Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons Golden Knights Last year's record: 1-6, Sectional finish: 13th - Class B Top Returnees: Kieran O'Connor-Jr., Tom Hartnett-So., Peter Schulte-So., Vin Petraccione-So., Brian Murray-So. Outlook: Losing Justin Pantalone will be a big hit but O'Connor should fill in nicely as the team's number one...Rest of the team are sophomores and the team could move up a place or two if they improve their times, all four were over 21 minutes last year...May move up a place or two in Class B's but not much more unless there's a big drop in times. Schenectady Patriots Last year's record: 5-2, Sectional finish: 13th - Class A Top Returnees: Vinnie Aceto-Sr., Victor Cutuy-Sr., Jason Woods-Jr., Verrol Jackson-Sr., Sam Acevedo-Jr. Outlook: Should have a pretty good season if everyone is healthy...Aceto and Cutuy should be their top two runners and their 3rd through 5th runners are all under 18:30 last year...Could be a darkhorse for the league title if everything comes together...Will probably move up in Class A, possibly top 10 with a good race. Troy Flying Horses Last year's record: 4-3, Sectional finish: 15th - Class A Top Returnees: Brad Lewis-Sr., Ryan Brown-Sr., Mike Benjamin-Sr., Brian Kobernuss-So. Outlook: Lewis and Brown are a nice one-two punch and will challenge for the individual title but their third through fifth runners are all over 20 minutes and need to improve their times...Finished 15th in Class A last year and might move up a couple of places if their third through fifth runners step up. Big 10 Girls Last Year's Team Champion: Amsterdam Last Year's Individual Champion: Caitlin Doherty (Bishop Gibbons) Team Predictions Individual Predictions
Amsterdam took the title last year and though they lost two runners to graduation has the depth and some new runners to step in and should go back-to-back this year. Bishop Gibbons returns their entire team and adds a couple of runners from their modified team and should be the team to battle Amsterdam. Rest of the league looks to be tight and any one of them could make a big move up. Individually Caitlin Doherty and the defending champion and a 2-time state qualifier and will be the favorite. Amsterdam's Jenna Krong and Krissy Welch and Catholic Central's Chelsea Fitzgerald will be challenging Doherty. Albany High Falcons Last year's record: 0-6, Sectional finish: 13th - Class A Top Returnees: Sophie Apakarian-So., Courtney Ranger, Erin Ross-So.,Sarah Hogan, Lauren George Outlook: Inexperienced team last year that improved well as the year went on...Apakarian had a great first season and will be their number one...Need their fourth and fifth runners to improve as their 4th runner was just under 24 minutes and fifth runner was over 26 minutes...Lost a couple of girls, if they get them back could be very tough...Will probably stay around the same in Class A. Amsterdam Rams Last Year's record: 6-0, Sectional finish: 9th - Class A Top Returnees: Jenna Krong-Jr., Krissy Welch-Fr., Amanda Watras-Sr., Sara VanWormer-Jr., Amanda Davey-So. Outlook: Krong and Welch were both well under 20 minutes and will be a nice one-two combo...Got some depth with a couple of freshmen that ran track, definitely the team to beat in the Big 10...Tough for them to move up in Class A, could possibly move up spot, maybe two with a good race. Bishop Maginn Golden Griffins Last year's record: 5-1, Sectional finish: 12th - Class A Top Returnees: Maeve Carey-So., Heather Hausher-Jr., Margaret Armenia-Sr., Ailis Fitzgerald-So., Vanessa Gamorra Outlook: Were hit hard by graduation losing their top four runners...Carey is their top returnee but was over 23 minutes last year...Team needs to rebuild this year and improve their times, will probably struggle in the league this year...Probably won't repeat their 12th place finish in Class A last year, will be toward the bottom this year. Catholic Central Crusaders Last year's record: 2-4, Sectional finish: 16th - Class A Top Returnees: Chelsea Fitzgerald-Sr., Tara Normandin-Sr., Rebecca Fribush-So., Kirsten Kilcullen-So., Jen Butler-Jr. Outlook: Last year's record was hurt by an injury but she's back and had a good track season...Return five out of six and should improve this year...Need big improvement from their number five runner who was over 27 minutes last year...May get help from last year's modified team or someone from their track team...Finished last in Class A last year and will definitely improve that place once again, hurt by Fitzgerald not running) Should be closer to 10th or 11th this year. Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons Golden Knights Last year's record: 4-2, Sectional finish: 10th - Class B Top Returnees: Caitlin Doherty-Sr., Maria Campano-So., Erica Lang-So., Kellie Lyons-Sr., Nicole Burns-So. Outlook: Return entire team lead by 2-time state qualifier Doherty...Need fifth runner to improve as she ran over 24 minutes last year...Have some runners coming up from last year's modified and will help their depth...Need times to drop a little if they want to challenge for the league title...May move up a couple of place in sectionals but not much more. Schenectady Patriots Last year's record: 1-5, Sectional finish: 15th - Class A Top Returnees: Kelsey Gnoinski-Sr., Melissa Bynum-Sr., Christina Thurman-Sr., Courtney Shickle-Sr., Rebecca Finelli-So. Outlook: Top three are solid with Gnoinski just over 21 minutes as their number one...Weakness is with their fourth and fifth runners who are both over 25 minutes, need to improve times or add some new runners...Not sure if they can move up in Class A with the current lineup, maybe a spot or two at best. Troy Flying Horses Last year's record: 3-3, Sectional finish: 14th - Class A Top Returnees: Stacey Smolinski-Jr., Leann Brigham-Jr., Kim Scully-Jr., Vincenza Daniels-Jr., Abby Brigham-Fr. Outlook: Smolinski had a good first year of cross country running under 22 minutes...Brigham's should be their second and third runners as Leann was just over 22 minutes...Rest of team was in 23 to 25 minute range and need to drop their times to improve in the league...Can see them moving up to 11th or 12th in Class A but not much more.
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