Even in the interlude between the end of the regular season and the advent of the post-season meets, the Liverpool and Cicero-North Syracuse cross country teams stayed in competition to avoid getting too relaxed at this most important time.
Back on Oct. 16, the girls Warriors won its own invitational meet at Longbranch Park, beating 17 other entrants. Liverpool had 42 points, with Marcellus (57 points) edging Central Square (58 points) for runner-up honors.
Individually, Ashley Letteney finished seventh in the Varsity I race in a time of 20 minutes, 42 seconds, with Rachel Putman ninth in 20:49 and Morgan Mahoney 11th in 20:50. Over in Varsity II, Becca Murray was second in 22:09, while Jessica Attaway (22:40) and Catherine Vann (22:43) ran sixth and seventh, respectively, and Leah Dixon was 14th.
The boys race had Liverpool fourth with 76 points as Marcellus (40 points) held off Brighton (46 points) for top honors. Brandon Rudd was 16th in the Varsity I race in a clocking of 17:40, just ahead of Zach Crosby (17:47) and Drew Henry (17:48), who were 17th and 18th, respectively.
Kevin Able was third in the Varsity II race in 17:49, while Casey Guilfoil made his way to ninth place (18:18) as Travis Chewning-Kulick was 13th and Anthony Romano finished 17th.
CNS was back in action last Wednesday, beating Christian Brothers Academy 21-38 on the girls side and 24-36 on the boys side.
Maria LaMontagne won the girls race in 19:27, seven seconds ahead of Nicole Watterud, with Jacqlynn Halstead third in 19:57. CBA took the next three spots before Marissa Colburn finished seventh, in 20:43. She was just ahead of Katie Laris (20:59), Kaitlin Donohoe (21:05) and Jessica Jeffo, who was 10th in 21:15.
In the boys race, Eric Hart, in a time of 16:50, took second behind CBA’s Brendan Smith (16:24). Ken Ryan was fourth, in 18:12, leading a pack of Northstars that included Jared Walther (18:37), Derek Heiser (18:42), Neil Gill and Anthony Lupia (18:45 each).
Now both sides could get ready for the CNY Counties League championships, which will take place next Saturday at Jamesville Beach Park after the Big East collegiate and Onondaga High School League meets are run. The boys go at 2:45, the girls at 3:20.
