Yes, it helps to have talent, but it also helps to get pushed by a teammate having similar skills.
That was how Jenna Schulz made some history for the Liverpool girls cross country team in last Wednesday’s season opener against West Genesee at Longbranch Park, setting a record time in the Warriors’ 19-39 win over the Wildcats.
Schulz and fellow Liverpool star Madison Neuner quickly pulled away from the rest of the field, and didn’t let up until Schulz had crossed the finish line in 18 minutes, 31 seconds, a new Longbranch girls course mark, with Neuner gaining second place in 18:34, just three seconds back.
Though WG’s Emily Young finished third in 19:28, Windsor Ardner was right behind her, finishing fourth in 19:29 as Natalie Kurz took fifth place in 19:45. Sydney Carlson clinched the Warriors’ win by taking seventh place in 20;25 as Isabella Brancato was eighth in 20:35.
Meanwhile, in the boys race, Liverpool completed the sweep of West Genesee, but it was a close one as the Warriors edged the Wildcats 26-29.
Having seen some big names (Stephen Schulz, Ty Brownlow, Josh Hickmott) graduate from a group that helped win a state Class A title in 2015, Liverpool still had the best runner on this day as Nathan Reeves won in 16:54 to hold off WG’s Sean Byrnes (17:03) for the top spot.
Cullen McLaughlin, in 17:26, got fourth place behind the Wildcats’ Matt Bartlotta (17:13) as T.J. Praschunus finished fifth in 17:28. Still, to clinch it, the Warriors needed Nick Brancato to get seventh place in 17:50 and Carter Rodriguez to finish ninth in 17:54.
Cicero-North Syracuse met a different fate in its opener last Wednesday, swept by Baldwinsville. What was odd about the 20-35 on the boys side was the closeness of the competition, with the entire top 10 separated by just 30 seconds.
However, B’ville swept the top four, with Garrett Vannatta, in 17:01, edging Adam Davis (17:03), Ben Timmons (17:04) and Conor McManus (17:06). All of them were ahead of the Northstars’ David Ware, who was fifth in 17:08 as Nathan Poirier got sixth in 17:09.
Making up some of the ground, C-NS had Brandon Martin finish seventh in 17:14 and John Perperian get eighth place in 17:15. Sam Barber was ninth in a clocking of 17:21.
The girls race saw C-NS fall to B’ville 23-36. Mia Pestle ran well for the Northstars, getting second place in 20:03 as Sarah Davis was third in 20:40. However, the Bees’ Justus Holden-Betts won in 19:11, and B’ville claimed six of the seven finishing spots behind Pestle and Davis, broken only by Ally N ewton getting eighth place in 21:44.
Now Liverpool and C-NS both ventured to Saturday’s Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Invitational, running on the same course where the Section III championships will take place early in November. The Warriors were in Race 3, and the Northstars in Race 4.
Liverpool won the girls Race 3 with 19 points as Mohonasen was second with 64 points, dominating as Schulz won the individual race in 18:54.4 over Neuner, who was second in 19:02.9. Kurz got fourth place in 20:12.5, while Ardner was fifth in 20:15.4 and Carlson was seventh in 20:35 flat. Isabella Brancato (21;07.5), Rosie Petrella (21:23.9) and Emily Neuner (21:44.6) also had top-15 finishes.
Then, in girls Race 4, C-NS had 60 points, second to Jamesville-DeWitt’s total of 38 points as Pestle, in 20:05.3, finished second among individuals behind the Red Rams’ Sophia Vinciguerra (19:53.4). Davis was fifth, in 21:10.8, while Newton got 10th place in 21:41.8. Megan Trubia took 23rd place in 22;52.9 and Maria Marullo (23:10.7) was 26th.
The boys races followed, and in Race 3 Liverpool had 61 points, second only to Beaver River’s 37 points. Reeves, in a clocking of 17:34.4, made it to third place among individuals as Praschunus was fifth in 17:34.4.
Nick Brancato was 15th in 18:08.4 behind all five of Beaver River’s top runners as McLaughlin (18:15.7) beat out Ethan Glashauser (18:17.6) for 20th place, ahead of Ben Zinger (18:32.8), Spencer Reudiger (18:34.0), Carter Rodriguez (18:35.6) and Miguel Gonzalez (18:50.8).
C-NS, with 61 points, was a close second to Watkins Glen (54 points) in boys race 4 as Poirier got to sixth place among individuals in 17:36.1, with Ware 10th in 17:46 flat and Perperian 11th in 17:49.7. R.J. Davis finished 13th in 17:50.7, with Jason Hughes, in 18:29.8, beating out Lucas Sharron (18:32.6) and Michael McBride (18:54.8).
