Perhaps the Liverpool cross country teams have found just the right moment to peak in terms of the 2008 season.
Following a narrow defeat to Cicero-North Syracuse on Oct. 16, the girls Warriors got revenge six days later when, in the CNY Counties League National division meet at Baldwinsville, it withstood the cold to beat the Northstars, 41 to 45.
Meanwhile, the Liverpool boys team shook off regular-season defeats to West Genesee and B’ville, beating both of them on the Bees’ home course as the Warriors got 40 points to the Wildcats’ 48 and the Bees’ 53.
In that boys meet, Colin Savage set the tone for the rest of Liverpool’s winning effort. Savage covered the B’ville course in 15 minutes, 16.71 seconds to beat B’ville’s Shaun Thompson by more than seven seconds.
Alex Wilke also ran quite well, claiming fifth place in 15:38.71, but the runners coming in behind Savage and Wilke made the ultimate difference.
Anthony Brais earned ninth place, in a clocking of 15:58.68. Just behind him, Mychal Ostuni and Nick Hull clinched the victory, as Ostuni took 12th place (16:11.37) and Hull finished 13th, in 16:19.99. Chris Clemons was 17th in 16:33.78.
Meanwhile, in the girls meet, as CNS’s Taylor Wendler prevailed in 18:05.71, the Warriors were lining up its girls to take the Northstars out.
Miranda McConnell ran her way to third place, in 18:21.18, just behind B’ville’s Danae Polsin (18:17.58), while Brigid Heenan claimed fourth place in 18:30.90.
Kaitlyn McNamara needed 19:00.46 to finish eighth, while Rachel Putman took 11th place in 19:12.62. In a full rush, Chelsea Attaway (19:17.40), Corrine Lawler (19:27.84), Lesley Bowers (19:35.02) and Trina Bills (19:40.78) all finished within the top 20, giving the Warriors nearly half the top 20 finishers.
Liverpool now will try its luck against the entire Section III Class AA field when they hold the sectional championships next Friday at Jamesville Beach State Park.
