Tuohy's fitness on display again at Bowdoin Park with No. 3 time

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

WAPPINGER'S FALLS, N.Y. -- Katelyn Tuohy called Saturday's race at the Section I Coaches Invitational at Bowdoin Park "a workout," yet she turned in the third-fastest performance in course history at 17 minutes, 28.6 seconds.

It's the continuation of an amzing season, but the North Rockland sophomore has her sights set on the first Saturday in December. 

"I definitely have some bigger goals than last year," Tuohy said. "Finishing in the top place at Nike Cross Nationals is my biggest goal."

Tuohy has been nothing short of sensational so far this season.

John Nepolitan's Photos - BOYS | GIRLS

At Bear Mountain on Sept. 8, using that race as a workout, Tuohy apparently broke Aisling Cuffe's course record of 16:27.2, running 16:24.99 at the Red Raider Run. However, a few misplaced cones actually made the course a few yards short.

Touhy ran 14:06.9 for 4,500 meters Oct. 7 at the Grout Invitaitonal at Central Park in Schenectady and won by more than a minute and a half.

Then, at the HOKA ONE ONE Manhattan Invitational at Van Courtlandt Park, Tuohy crushed Jessica Lawson's 2015 record on the well-trod 2.5-kilometer course by 30 seconds. Tuohy clocked 13:21.8.

"It was the single greatest performance at Van Cortlandt Park I'd ever seen," long-time Bronxville coach Jim Mitchell said.  

On Saturday, Tuohy ran away from Tully freshman Brooke Rauber (US#23) and beat her by 91 seconds. 

"Today I was running the race as a workout," Tuohy said. "It didn't matter if Rauber was in front of me. I was just focusing on my workout. I have important races like Federations and Nike Northeast Regionals here. I was just getting a feel for the course."

Where is this improvement coming from? According to coach Brian Diglio, for the first time, the coaching staff at North Rockland has raised Tuohy's mileage.

"This is the first summer we kind of upped her training mileage," Diglio said. "She's still young. She's a sophomore. I'm always going to err on the side of caution in terms of mileage. She's responded really well to that, running much faster this year."

Tuohy agreed with her coach's assessment.

"We've definitely anted up this year with the intensity because I'm a year older, a year stronger," Tuohy said. 

Tuohy's older brother, Patrick, a senior, won the Boys Varsity 1 race in 16:21.2.

Bowdoin Park Top Girls Performances

1. Aisling Cuffe, Cornwall, 17:16.9 (2010)

2. Nicole Blood, Saratoga Springs, 17:27.3 (2004)

3. Katelyn Tuohy, North Rockland, 17:28.6 (2017)

4. Kaitlyn Neal, Fayetteville-Manlius, 17:37.8 (2015)

5. Mary Cain, Bronxville, 17:40.0 (2011)

6. Aislinn Ryan, Warwick, 17:40.2 (2004)

Running In Tandem

The bond of Schalmont NY's twin brothers Francisco and Antonio Beltran is evident as they race.

"They really complement each other well," Schalmont coach Rich Kranick said. "A lot of times Tony will take it out and Francisco will be behind. On the track it's poetic to see them run the 800. They control the race."

In the Boys Varsity 3 race, Antonio Beltran led the pack through the first mile. Then, Francisco, the more seasoned racer, came up from behind.

"Francisco is the more savvy racer," Kranick said. "He reads the race much better, pushing his way through the crowd. Tony's a year behind. But he'll catch up."

Francisco won the race in 16:53.2, with Antonio finishing fourth in 17:02.8. 

Long-distance rivalry

The boys of Irondequoit NY made the 310-mile trip from the Rochester area to Bowdoin Park for a specific purpose.

"We wanted to beat Arlington," said senior Robert Thompson, who finished second in 17:04.0, one spot ahead of Arlington junior Colin Waters in 17:09.20 (Nanuet's Ryan Guerci won the race in 16:42.20).

"We're behind them in the state rankings."

Added his brother Ryan Thompson, who finished eighth in 17:28.80: "They got us by three points at McQuaid. We wanted to come back."

However, Arlington had a big advantage at No. 5 and beat Irondequoit on its home course, 51-61.

"Our two top guys had amazing days today," Irondequoit coach Matt Tyler said. "At McQuaid, Arlington's top two guys finished ahead of our entire top five." 

Warwick Valley edges Pearl River

Warwick Valley, which finished second to Bishop Hendricken R.I. in its race at Manhattan last weekend, and finished eighth in the loaded Varsity Boys AAA race Sept. 30 at the McQuaid Invitational, won the Boys Varsity 3 title over Pearl River, 62-66. Both teams were missing their top runner: Warwick Valley was without sophomore Behailu Bekele-Arcuri, who was attending a wedding, and Pearl River didn't have senior Matt Politis, who started the race but dropped out as part of a pre-planned workout. Each had won their races at Van Cortlandt Park last week.

Fusco brothers 1-2

Somers senior Matt Fusco posted the second-fastest time of the day in the Boys Varsity 4 race, running 16:38.40 with his twin brother Greg Fusco not far behind (16:49.10) in second. Jack Buckley, a senior at John Jay-Cross River, was third in 17:02.50. 

Hennelly has momentum

Suffern sophomore Mary Hennelly won the Girls Varsity 1 race in 18:47.70, following a win in her letter race at Manhattan last week.

"The Manhattan Invitational was a big confidence-booster," Hennelly said. "I just want to keep running faster times."