Baloga In Fine Company With 16:33 at Bear Mountain Course

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor/John Nepolitan file photo

Senior Karrie Baloga of Cornwall Central NY, No. 2 in the latest DyeStat individual rankings, covered the three miles at Bear Mountain State Park in New York in 16:33.4 at the Orange County Championships (OCIAA) on Friday. 

Baloga moved up to No. 3 all-time on a course that has seen its share of national champions. 

Baloga's time trails only record-holder Katelyn Tuohy of North Rockland, the three-time Nike Cross Nationals champion, and previous Cornwall star Aisling Cuffe. 

Tuohy ran a blazing course record time of 15:55.3 as a sophomore in 2017 and Cuffe ran 16:27.6 on the way to a Foot Locker title in 2010. 

Baloga's time moved her ahead of another Foot Locker champion, Aislinn Ryan of Warwick, who ran 16:35.4 in 2004 prior to her national title. 

Baloga won the OCIAA title for the fourth time and ran 23 seconds faster than her previous best as a freshman in 2019. If not for the COVID cancellation of 2020, she could have become the first five-time winner.