Hitting the post-season circuit, Christian Brothers Academy boys cross country runner Brendan Smith conquered the field at Wednesday’s Onondaga High School League Liberty division championship meet at Cazenovia.
Smith, a senior, was expected to duel with Marcellus junior Ryan Manahan on the 3.1-mile Sean Goggin Memorial Sports Complex course.
But Smith would dominate the race, enduring rain, mud and chilly temperatures to finish in 16 minutes. 4.7 seconds, nearly half a minute ahead of Manahan (16:28.4), who was second.
Overall, CBA was sixth in a nine-team field with 157 points as Marcellus, the state’s no. 3-ranked Class B team, won with 33 points to runner-up Hannibal’s 52.
David Carey gave the Brothers a 17th-place finish in 17:44 flat. Sid Perkins was 35th, in 18:48.7, while Kyle Barker (20:02.9) and Ryan Vignogna (20:11.6) rounded out the scoring column. Kevin Frasier (21:33.3), Will Adams (21:47.9), Nick Spunar (21:49.6) and Joe Dwyer (27:04.5) also competed.
In a seven-team OHSL Liberty girls field, CBA found its way to fifth place, with 109 points, as Westhill/Bishop Ludden, with 45 points, took top honors over host Cazenovia (63 points) and the rest.
Megan Pierce led the Brothers with a 10th-place clocking of 20:05.2, while Maire Kate McGlynn was 11th in 20:08.4. Alexis Buck ran to 22nd place in 21:11.5 as Gabrielle Schug was 27th in 21:53 flat. Rebecca Boulos, in 28:03.8, rounded out the field.
