Each of the Skaneateles cross country teams were eager to race again after their Oct. 2 meet with Hannibal got postponed by weather.
When the Lakers took off against Altmar-Parish-Williamstown last Wednesday afternoon at the Polo Grounds, it proved to be a total success as Skaneateles swept the Rebels.
The boys Lakers, no. 17 in the latest state Class C rankings, beat APW 15-50 as its top runners essentially stayed together throughout the three-mile Polo Grounds course.
Chris Burgher finished in 18 minutes, 22 seconds, leading the pack as Joe Norris and Caleb Bender both posted 18:23 and Connor Gell was fourth in 18:24. Will Girzadas, in 18:51, beat out Matt Persampieri (18:54) for fifth place as Josh Reed posted 20:11.
In the girls race, Skaenateles prevailed 16-39 over APW, with Georgia McSwain leading a top-four individual sweep as she finished in 21 minutes, 34 seconds.
Hope Cross-Jaya grabbed second place in 22:11, with Elyse Osmun third in 22:39. Leading the next back, Lillian Yengo made her way to fourth place in 25:38 as the Rebels’ Makalia Reid was fifth in 26:37, but Ellie McSwain got sixth place in 27:11
Now both Skaneateles sides would go to Van Cortlandt Park, in the Bronx, to take part in Saturday’s Manhattan Invitational, where the boys Lakers, in Varsity Race E, finished 12th in a 26-team field with a lot of large schools.
Bender had a terrific race on the 2.5-mile Van Cortlandt Park course, finishing 24th in 13:43.6, with Norris making his way to 49th place in 14:08.3. Persampieri, in 14:28 flat, beat out Burgher (14:28.4) for 73rd place, with Gell posting 14:48.7 and Will Girzadas finishing in 15:31.2.
On the girls side, it was Georgia McSwain finishing in 17:04 flat to take 61st place, best among Lakers individuals.
Osmun, in 17:37.6, was two spots ahead of Tallerico (17:39.6). Cross-Jaya finished in 18:17.5, beating out Yengo (19:05.7) and Ellie McSwain, who posted 20:43.1.
