LIVERPOOL – In the aftermath of the successful 69th running of its invitational meet, the Baldwinsville cross country teams had another showdown with a key rival.
It was the Bees against Liverpool last Wednesday at Long Branch Park, and since they were next to each other in the state Class A rankings, it only figured that the boys meet was a close one.
But no. 16-ranked B’ville lost, 27-30, to the no. 15-ranked Warriors, who secured four of the top six spots to build a lead the Bees could not overcome.
Solomon Holden-Betts finished in 17 minutes, 19.2 seconds, topping everyone except Liverpool senior Ryan Hagan, who pulled away to win in 16:36.9.
Jeff Ragonese, in 17:51.5, was fourth behind Gavin Kenna (17:34.7), but the Warriors claimed the next two spots before B’ville’s main pack finished.
Ryan Wilson, seventh in 18:21.2, led that pack, with Jack McAllister posting 18:25.2 and Adam Kozman finishing in 18:26.2. Arthur Chappell Bauer posted 18:27 flat as Owen Weaver, in 18:38.6, finished just outside the top 10.
B’ville’s girls absorbed a 15-50 defeat to a state Class A no. 15-ranked Liverpool side that swept the top seven individual spots, led by Kaleigh Buck, who won in 20:40.2
It was Sophia Cavalieri leading the Bees as she finished eighth in 22:21.3. Margaret Solomon got 10th place in 22:48 flat, with Mary Sabatino 11th in 22:49.5 as Erin Seitzer, in 24:47.3, beat out Brianna Grosso (24:48.6), Lily Horan (25:44.2) and Carsyn Cronin (25:52.9).
Now B’ville ventured to Saturday’s McQuaid Invitational in Rochester, where the boys side was 19th in a 22-team field for the featured Bob Bradley Premier Race. Holden-Betts made his way to 27th place in 16:04 flat, but Wilson, in 17:11.2, was the only other Bee in the top 100.
In the girls Varsity Seeded AAA race at McQuaid, B’ville finished 13th, led by Cavalieri, who got 27th place in 20:38.6. Sabatino took 43rd place in 21:18.3, with Solomon (21:55.1) just ahead of Horan (22:02.6).
