Taking one more bow in 2009, West Genesee’s boys cross country team competed at the Nov. 21 New York State Federation championships at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, taking 14th place in a 22-team field.
At that same meet, WG girls star Laura Leff finished eighth in her Federation event. Leff’s time of 18 minutes, 32.7 seconds left her in eighth place, as Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall) won in 17:38.9.
What was significant was that Leff’s time of 18:32.7 was the fastest 5,000-meter time posted by any eighth-grader in the entire country this season.
Overall, the boys Wildcats had 322 points, amid a crowd of contenders and just 49 points out of the top 10. North Rockland (Section I) won with 132 points.
Steve Houghmaster had a real chance at the individual championship, but settled for fifth place, the senior finishing in 16 minutes, 12.5 seconds. His Section III teammate, Shaun Thompson (Baldwinsville), was third in 16:06.0 as Max Straneva (Chenango Valley) won in 15:59.7.
As for the other WG runners, Sam Reedy finished 63rd, in 17:10.5, with Martin Leff finishing in 17:31.1. Billy Gabriel (17:46.7), Matt Gonnella (18:11.3), John DeLallo (18:18.2) and Matt Serrao (18:24.9) were close behind.
