by Kurt Wheeler
The Cazenovia girls cross country team achieved a dramatic one-point victory over league rival Skaneateles, prevailing 28-29 at Long Branch Park on Tuesday afternoon.
This match-up featured the last two unbeaten teams in the OHSL Liberty National Division. Cazenovia moved into first place with one week remaining in the regular season.
And while the two teams were evenly matched in terms of talent, Cazenovia’s depth proved to be the decisive factor.
Skaneateles runners Sarah Tallerico (a time of 19 minutes, 53 seconds over the 3.05-mile Long Branch course) and Hope Cross-Yaya (20:19) earned the first and second places to put their team in a strong position. Cazenovia’s Lauren McLean (20:49) and Isla Stover (20:53) countered with their fastest races of the season to keep Cazenovia close.
When Skaneateles’ Lillian Yengo captured fifth place in 21:04, the “Western Lakers” seemed to be in the driver’s seat. But as it has all season, Cazenovia’s exceptionally deep and talented “pack” proved to be the difference, seizing 10 of the next 11 places to swing the advantage.
Molly Hart (sixth, 21:15), Mary Williams (seventh, 21:40) and Maddie McGreevy (eighth, 21:41) surged across the line in quick secession to complete Cazenovia total of 28 points.
Sophia Auredon (ninth, 21:51) was fourth for Skaneateles, bringing their score to 17 with one runner to go. If Skaneateles could grab the tenth place, they would win the meet by a point.
The Cazenovia pack refused to relent, however, capturing the next seven places to displace the final opposing scorer and push the Skaneateles total to 29 for the exciting one point victory. Laura Fitzgerald (10th, 22:04) and Finlay Stover (11th, 22:06) led the charge, earning the critical number six and seven positions for the team.
They were followed closely by Claire Braaten, who finished in 22:20 despite running the last mile of the race with one shoe after losing the other in a mud hole along the way.
Emma Steinberg (22:53), Mia Chesbrough (22:57), Melanie Michael (23:06) and Grace Dolan (23:08) also beat the final Skaneateles scorer to the line, offering a rich insurance policy to guarantee the Cazenovia victory. Jenna Steinberg, Sedona Millard, Eleanor Wester, Maggie Rowles and Alyson Woolbert also raced well for the Lakers during the strong team showing.
The win kept Cazenovia undefeated at 4-0 and moved them into sole possession of first place in the league with one meet remaining. They will face Marcellus at Altmar-Parish-Williamstown next Wednesday as they strive to clinch the league title.
Also, the win kept the “Laker Cup” in Cazenovia’s trophy case. The cup is a traveling award that resides with the winner of the most recent dual meet in cross country or spring track. The tradition is a celebration of the friendly rivalry between the two programs that have been among the best in Central New York over the past 20 years.
Cazenovia journeys to New York City over the weekend to participate in the legendary Manhattan Invitational in iconic VanCortlandt Park before setting its sights on the league title in its race with Marcellus.