CENTRAL NEW YORK – Again in the mix for OHSL Liberty division honors, the Cazenovia boys cross country team managed to handle visiting Skaneateles in last Wednesday’s league opener.
Jake Woolbert set the pace for the host Lakers in this 19-42 decision, covering the Fenner course in 17 minutes, 54 seconds, well clear of the 18:37 from Eddie Comeau.
Kooper Wilmot’s fourth-place 19:37 was complemented by a 19:51 from Garrett Lounsbury. Henri Mongeau finished in 20:30 to edge Evan Molloy (20:31) and Owen Woodworth (20:32) as William Gatton finished in 20:40.
As this went on, Chittenango opened its league slate last Wednesday against Christian Brothers Academy, the boys Bears taking a 25-31 defeat to the Brothers.
CBA swept the top three, led by Kyle Gaffney’s winning 17:51 which was more than 90 seconds ahead of the field. To pace Chittenango, Manu Tipa made it to fourth place in 19:46.
Behind Tipa, Dan Mahle had a fifth-place time of 20:05, with Ethan Lavier (20:30) just ahead of Gavin Roach (20:31) as Jacob Neupert finished in 20:46.
Chittenango’s girls had a better time of it, beating CBA 15-51 by sweeping the top seven, led by Mariah Stewart and Natlie DiGennaro, who both finished in 23:19.
Close behind them, Laura Powers posted 23:22 and Sophia DiGennaro finished in 23:23. Ani McCarthy was fifth in 23:44, edging Emily Judd (23:45) and Ava McLean (23:50) for that spot.
Both Chittenango and Cazenovia got underway Sept. 16 in the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Invitational, with the boys Lakers eighth and the Bears just behind them in ninth place.
Individually, Cazenovia’s Jake Woolbert was 12th among team runners (14th overall) in 18:09.2, with Kooper Wilmot (20:05.1) also getting a top-40 individual finish. Chittenango had Mahle, 38th in the team standings in 20:21.2, just ahead of Tipa’s 20:21.2 and Lavier’s 20:23.3.
Cazenovia moved on from the Skaneateles race to finish ninth among 35 teams in the Small School division of last Saturday’s 71st annual Baldwinsville Invitational.
Woolbert led the way, cracking the individual top 10 with a time of 17:27.2. No other Laker got close to that mark, with Comeau 60th among team runners in 18:58.8 and Wilmot (19:10.5) close behind.
When Chittenango ran in the Queensbury Invitational, Mahle led the boys Bears, his 18:38.4 ahead of Lavier’s 18:48.8. On the girls side, Stewart went 21:25.7 to pace Chittenango ahead of McCarthy’s 22:05.7.
