|
|
Section 2 Harrier Website Colonial Council 2003 Preview
Colonial Council Boys Last Year's Team Champion: Albany Academy Last Year's Individual Champion: James Tillapaugh (Cobleskill-Rich.) `` Team Predictions Individual Predictions
League Outlook Compared to previous years Colonial Council is a little down this year. Team depth will be a big factor this year as many teams are a little thin. Albany Academy looks to have the best returning runners back but Cobleskill and Ravena will challenge if they can pick up a couple of runners. Individually, Cobleskill's Colt Steiger and Brett Brimlow are the only two runners returning that have run under 17 minutes at Saratoga but a healthy Doug Mabee of Albany Academy will challenge them.
Albany Academy Cadets Last year's record: 7-0 Sectional place: 9th place - Class B Top Returnees: Doug Mabee-Jr., Pat Wright-Jr., Matt Mackey-Jr., Chris Lupi-Jr., Phillip Picotte-Sr. Outlook: Lose defending Class B champ, Neal Dignum, but bring back a solid group of juniors lead by Mabee and Wright. Mabee was injured at the end of the season last year and could challenge for the league title and Lupi was out most of the season with an injury...Should have at least four under 18 minutes and that should be enough to repeat as league champions. Cobleskill-Richmondville Bulldogs Last year's record: 6-1 Sectional place: 2nd place - Class C Top Returnees: Colt Steiger-Jr., Brett Brimlow-Jr., Bob Bartlett-Sr. Outlook: Steiger and Brimlow are the top two returning runners in the league, both going under 17 minutes at Saratoga...Unfortunately they only return three runners from last year...They should have at least five runners with runners coming up from modified but even last year they had troubles having five on the line...If they can pick up two decent runners they could challenge for the league title since their first three are so strong. Cohoes Tigers Last year's record: 0-6-1 Sectional place: incomplete - Class C Top Returnees: None Outlook: No one returning and no modified runners last year. Lansingburgh Knights Last year's record: 0-6-1 Sectional place: incomplete - Class C Top Returnees: Jim Zvotnick-Sr., Brian Davey-So. Outlook: Only return two runners with no modified runners from last year...Hopefully they can pick up three new runners. Mechanicville Red Raiders Last year's record:2-5 Sectional place: incomplete - Class C Top Returnees: Jared Bartlett-So., Dallas Foard-Jr., Zach Montanaro-So., Andy Bisnett-Sr. Outlook: Return four runner with three of them running over 20 minutes at Saratoga...Bartlett is their top runner, running under 19 minutes and could crack the top 10 in the league with some work. Ravena Indians Last year's record: 4-3 Sectional place: 6th place - Class B Top Returnees: Sean McGrath-Jr., Mike Hennessey-Jr., Pat Peck-Jr., Corey O'Donnell-So., Anthony Gannon-Sr. Outlook: Lost a couple good runners to graduation but bring back a good Nucleus with McGrath and Hennessey under 19 minutes and Peck just over it...Need some improvement from 4th and 5th runners from their returnees or new runners...Could move up to 1st or 2nd with those improvements. Schalmont Sabres Last year's record: 5-2 Sectional place: 7th place - Class B Top Returnees: Dave Ferraro-So., Andy Piatrowski-Jr., Ben Bauer-Sr., Joe Iachetta-Sr. Outlook: Schalmont was it hard by graduation, losing their top four runners from last year. Rebuilding this year with Ferraro leading the way as the only runners under 20 minutes last year...Schalmont always has good numbers and that depth should help them Voorheesville Blackbirds Last year's record: 3-4 Sectional place: 10th place - Class C Top Returnees: Chris Holland-Sr., Brett Lafave-Jr., Ian Michalski-So., Evan Sorel-Jr., Garrett Greenwood-Jr. Outlook: Voorheesville has a solid number one runner with Holland but only return only one other runner that's under 20 minutes...They had a very good modified team last year but I was told that many of them did not come back out for cross country...Need their 3rd through 5th runners to improve if they want to move up in the league. Colonial Council Girls Last Year's Team Champion: Holy Names Last Year's Individual Champion: Elizabeth Maloy (Holy Names) Team Predictions Individual Predictions
League Outlook Holy Names still looks like the team to beat with three returning runners that have gone under 20 minutes at Saratoga. Lansingburgh has closed the gap a little and looks to be the team to challenge the defending champions. Individually it should be a very good race with Sarah Hardwick and Rachel Ohm of Holy Names, Brittany Demarse, Lansingburgh's Amanda McDonough, and Cobleskill's Karyn Clements all vying for the title. I give the early nod to Hardwick.
Cobleskill-Richmondville Bulldogs Last year's record: 5-2 Sectional place: 1st place - Class C Top Returnees: Karyn Clements-So., Nicole Kosier-Jr., Linda Krisowaty-Jr. Outlook: Two time Class C champs move up to Class B this year, unfortunately they lost seven out of their top ten from last year...Clements is a good number one and should challenge for the league title...with improvements from their 2nd and 3rd runners and some help from last year's modified runners that will move up and they will have a good chance of moving up in the league. Cohoes Tigers Last year's record: 5-2 Sectional place: 4th place - Class C Top Returnees: Brittany Demarse-Sr., Ruth Steciuk-Jr., Kayla Tomaro-Jr., Missy Steciuk-Fr., Jackie Gallerno-Jr. Outlook: Tough top four with Demarse, Steciuk, and Tomaro but fifth runner is almost 4 minutes behind...If they can get a solid fifth runner then they can be closer to the top of the league...No modified runners last year so help will have to come from elsewhere. Holy Names Last year's record: 7-0 Sectional place: 1st place - Class B Top Returnees: Sarah Hardwick-So., Rachel Ohm-So., Dierdre Cummings-Sr., Sarah Weglowski-Jr., Claire Hardwick-8th Outlook: Three time Class B champions lose Class B State Champion Liz Maloy but they still return a solid bunch of runners with three of them running under 20 minutes at Saratoga and adding 8th grader Claire Hardwick will help after a track season where she broke 5 minutes in the 1500 meters...Still the team to beat but could use a little more depth to bolster their team. Lansingburgh Knights Last year's record: 5-2 Sectional place: 5th place - Class B Top Returnees: Amanda McDonough-Sr., Sara Lanesey-Sr., Amber Kinsey-So., Tracey Lanesey-Sr., Alyssa Delamater-So. Outlook: Return six out of their top seven with state qualifier McDonough leading the way...May have a slight edge in depth but need their 2nd and 3rd runners, Lanesey and Kinsey, to be more competitive with Holy Names' 2nd and 3rd runners if they want to dethrone them. Mechanicville Red Raiders Last year's record: 0-6-1 Sectional place: incomplete - Class D Top Returnees: None Outlook: Ran incomplete last year and no runners return...Also, didn't have any modified runners so team needs to regroup. Ravena Indians Last year's record: 0-6-1 Sectional place: incomplete - Class B Top Returnees: Sabrina Pry-Jr., Sarah Sherman-Sr. Outlook: Ran incomplete last year and only return two runners...Pry is a good number one runner, running Saratoga in 20:43...Had good numbers in modified which may help them in filling their team but the young runners need to mature and probably won't help them out this year in moving up in the league. Schalmont Sabres Last year's record: 2-5 Sectional place: 9th place - Class B Top Returnees: Allison O'Mara-So., Megan Canell-So., Christine Eisenhower-Sr., Alicia DeRusso-Sr., Meg Randle-Sr. Outlook: Like their boys team, they were hit hard by graduation losing their top three runners...Will have a full team but top returnee is over 23 minutes...Will have trouble moving up in the league but are always competitive. Voorheesville Blackbirds Last year's record: 3-4 Sectional place: 5th place - Class C Top Returnees: Jessica Ransbury-Jr., Sarah Berte-Jr., Kelly McKenna-So., Jessica Berschwinger-So., Laura Pasquali-Jr. Outlook: Big loss with the graduation of state qualifier Kate Alpert....Have very good depth with their top seven but need to have someone establish themselves as their number one runner, until they have that they will have a tough time with the top four teams in the league...Had a couple of good modified runner last year that may help them this year.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
