WAPPINGERS FALLS – After a long absence, the Fayetteville-Manlius cross country teams nearly made a triumphant return to the New York State Federation championships.
In the Nov. 20 revival of the Federation meet at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, each of the Hornets’ sides would record second-place finishes, with Izzie Sullivan and Hannah Kaercher both within the individual top five on the girls side.
F-M’s girls found itself in a rematch with Saratoga Springs seven days after the Blue Streaks prevailed in the Nov. 13 NYSPHSAA meet at Chenango Valley.
Earning 54 points, the Hornets topped 29 other teams, yet still trailed Saratoga, who with 28 points had five of the top eight team runners overall.
Sullivan, looking for her third win in as many weeks, covered the Bowdoin Park course in 17 minutes, 59.4 seconds, which put her in second as Cornwall’s Karrie Baloga won in 17:54.7.
Also running well, Kaercher made her way to fifth place in 18;17.4, the Hornets ‘ only other top-15 finish.
Debbie Lucchetti was 13th among team runners (18th overall) in 19:05.6, with Isabella Adrian going 19:20.9, just ahead of Amelia Amack (19:25.5) as Maria Khalifeh posted 19:49.5 and Camille Ryan finished in 20:11.7.
F-M’s boys team didn’t have to face NYSPHSAA Class A state champion Corning at the Federation meet.
Of the 30 teams on hand, the Hornets’ 148 points topped everyone except Section II’s Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, who won with 101 points.
To lead these Hornets, Anthony Otis finished 15th in the team standings, and 24th overall, in a clocking of 16:37.5.
Nolan McGinn, in 16:39.8, was two spots behind Otis in the team portion, with Jackson Matthews (17:07.6) also finishing inside the individual top 50.
Daniel Patrick finished in 17:22 flat, ahead of Will Seamans (17:36.7). Cooper Dereszynski posted 18:09.1 as Mason Weires posted 18:30.2.
