Statement wins for CBA boys, Unionville girls
By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor (With on-site coverage provided by Chris Nickinson)
TFX RESULTS BOYS | GIRLS
Christian Brothers Academy may be No. 2 in the latest DyeStat rankings but the boys from New Jersey ran into the record books on Saturday at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
The quintet of Mike McClemens, Blaise Ferro, Tom Rooney, Fran Bogan and Josh Kruppa broke the team record in the Eastern States championship of the Manhattan Invitational by totaling 1:03:41.70 for an average of 12:44.34 per man. Three of those guys were part of the previous record, set last year.
"Workouts (have been going) a little better than last year," CBA coach Tom Heath said. "(Today) we just got out so poorly in the beginning we had to run so hard in the middle (and) I didn' t know we'd have enough at the end, but obviously we did."
CBA scored 90 points, edging out a fine effort for the Fayetteville-Manlius boys (114) for the title.
CBA also got an important contribution from fifth man, Kruppa, who was 44th.
"The first four guys are really really good," Heath said. "The five is going to be a carousel of about six guys. Any of them could be No. 5 on a given day."
JOHN NEPOLITAN PHOTO GALLERIES
Individually, Tony Russell of West Chester Henderson charged to the win in the boys race in 12:20.0. That's the fastest time ever by a Pennsylvanian in the meet and ties for the 13th fastest of all-time with Joe Rosa's junior year performance. Bryce Millar of Fayetteville-Manlius was next in 12:21.1 and Mickey Burke of Rush-Henrietta was third in 12:23.8. Liam Mullett, who won the Shore Coaches Invite in New Jersey last week, ran 12:26.0 for fourth.
Meanwhile, in the Girls Eastern States Championship, Unionville PA defeated seven-time defending national champion Fayetteville-Manlius for the second time in the past month.
"It's a little surreal," Unionville coach Mark Lacianca said. "Give Fayetteville-Manlius credit.
They're always there and they've set the bar very high and we've been very fortunate to twice beat them."
Head to head, Unionville was better than F-M at 1, 2 and 5.
"We struggled a little bit today. A couple of girls had some issues with dehydration or some sickness," Lacianca said.
Still, Unionville is blooming confidence.
"We talked it about it last time that we have an opportunity to run against the No. 1 team in the nation ... the chips fell (at McQuaid Invite) and we ended up running well and (F-M) didn't have a great day and we got the win," Lacianca said. "It raised the bar for today. We were here to win. It wasn't our best day but we'll take it."
Individually, Kennedy Weisner of Elk County Catholic PA ran No. 8 all-time 14:09.7 to get the win. US#30 Autumn Eastman of Champlain Valley VT was second in 14:23.1 and US#26 Courtney Smith was third in 14:26.0.