Cross country: Two Section V runners finish in top 20 at New York Federation Championships
A pair of matching top 20 finishes by two of the Rochester area's best high school cross country runners led the way at Saturday's state federation championships in Dutchess County.
Penn Yan senior James "J.D." Tette, Section V's Class C state champion, and Rush-Henrietta junior Haylie Smith, were each 18th in the boys and girls races on Bowdoin Park's 3.1-mile course in the town of Poughkeepsie.
"This is such a great experience," Tette said by phone on his way home. "I only raced this course once before, two years ago at federations. I was 57th, so this is a big jump. I believe I'm the only Penn Yan runner to compete at this level, so it's very special."
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Federation of Secondary Schools Championship brings together top teams and individuals by invitation. Athletes and teams that have performed well in the post-season are entered from public, parochial and private schools. This was the 50th edition.
"I'm pretty happy with 18th," said Tette, recognizing the event's long tradition and level of competition. His 16-minute, 39.0-second finish ranks 48th all-time among Section V runners who've competed at the course in the last 32 years. "I would have liked to be in the top 10, but that's okay. Now I have more experience for next week."
Tette is returning Saturday for the Nike Cross New York regionals, the qualifier for a trip to the nationals in Portland, Ore., if individuals are in the top five, not counting finishers from the winning team.
Tette said that after a fast start and getting boxed in at a creek bridge, where the course narrows severely after 800 meters, he worked his way up from the high 20s.
"I passed guys going up and coming down," he said of the almost mile long hill that is the east bank of the Hudson River. "The last thousand meters, I was able to pass four or five guys as well."
Boys cross country: Section V results for the 2023 season
Girls cross country: Section V results for the 2023 season
Two medalists for R-H
Smith's 19:18.6 time is fourth fastest all-time for R-H runners on the Bowdoin Park course, behind Alex Cooper, Siobhan Quinn and Sammy Watson. A year ago, Smith was 34th in 19:36.8.
"It was a very crowded race," Smith said. "It was hard to get out and you had to keep fighting for your position. I was probably 30th at the mile mark. When we started coming back down the hill, I knew I had to change gears. Nobody passed me after that."
She and her freshman teammate, Audrey Gleghorn, both medaled (top 40).
"They ran very well," said R-H coach Mike DeMay. "They led the way for us to run the race we planned. We're coming back next week for Nike."
Irondequoit junior Audrey Smith was Section V's third finisher, in 46th, as her team was 12th, ahead of R-H at 17th and Fairport 21st. R-H's boys team was 21st and Spencerport 28th.
Jim Castor, retired assistant sports editor of the Democrat and Chronicle, has covered running in the Rochester area for more than five decades. He can be reached at jcastor@jimcastor.com
NYS Federation of Secondary Schools
Athletic Association Championships
3.1-mile open loop course at Bowdoin Park, town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County
Boys
Teams (31): 1. Monroe-Woodbury-Section IX 92. Section V: 21. Rush-Henrietta 514, 28. Spencerport 639.
Individuals (287): 1. Van Furman (Tri-Valley Secondary School, town of Neversink, Sullivan County-IX) 16:07.6. Sect. V: 18. James "J.D." Tette (Penn Yan) 16:39.0, 30. Christian Wescott (R-H) 16:51.3, 53. Toby Dickerson (Spen) 17:11.1, 72. Simon Aguilar (Geneseo) 17:25.2, 138. Caleb Lantz (R-H) 17:58.4, 169. Kian Quigley (Spen) 18:17.9, 177. Devan Renjen (Penfield) 18:22.6, 184. Zachary Terrano (R-H) 18:24.5, 193. Sam Lewis (R-H) 18:28.4, 203. Mikey Flannery (R-H) 18:31.3, 210. Kyle Lovenguth (Spen) 18:34.0, 235. Jackson Frisa (Spen) 18:53.4, 239. Miles Glass (Spen) 18:59.0, 240. Thuan Nyguyen (Spen) 19:04.3, 241. Jackson Penna (Spen) 19:05.0, 264. Charles Cole IV (R-H) 19:41.1, 286. Bayley Herman (R-H) 20:44.8.
Girls
Teams (30): 1. Saratoga Springs-II 33. Sec. V: 12. Irondequoit 346, 17. Rush-Henrietta 459, 21. Fairport 543.
Individuals (287): 1. Zariel Macchia (William Floyd H.S., town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County-XI) 17:59.4. Sec. V: 18. Haylie Smith (R-H) 19:18.6, 40. Audrey Gleghorn (R-H) 19:54.5, 46. Aubrey Smith (Iron) 20:02.8, 58. Elizabeth Tytler (Iron) 20:13.4, 64. Hannah Governor (Williamson) 20:18.2, 81. Hannah Casler (Fair) 20:31.8, 84. Kira LaVeck (Iron) 20:36.1, 98. Emily Lamb (Geneseo) 20:49.4, 116. Katie Bauman (Iron) 21:07.0, 160. Megan Denis (Fair) 21:51.0, 169. Emma Blodgett (Fair) 22:04.7, 206, Mattea Keller (Fair) 22:44.6, 210. Violet Lewis (R-H) 22:46.3, 211. Emily Whitehouse (R-H) 22:46.5, 221. Madison Hansen (Fair) 23:05.5,. 223. Ava Magyar (R-H) 23:08.7, 229. Bridget Fish (Fair) 23:19.9, 251. Alexandra Friedel (Iron) 23:50.3, 263. Tessa Coeny (Iron) 24:12.5, 273. Saughnessy Trevor (R-H) 24:32.5, 281. Caroline Hendy (R-H) 25:40.8.
Complete results online at www.leonetiming.com
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Cross country: Two Section V runners in top 20 at federation championships
