Patriots, Braves vying for state titles
B-P’s Bogdan, FFCS’ Geniti, Phelps competing for cross-country honorsBy PAUL WAGER, The Leader-Herald
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SARATOGA SPRINGS - The area will be well represented Saturday at the New York State Cross Country Championships at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.
The Broadalbin-Perth and Fonda-Fultonville boys teams both qualified along with three individuals on the girls side.
It will be the second consecutive trip to the state meet for the Patriots, who successfully defended their Section II Class B title Friday at Saratoga Spa State Park by a 50-111 margin over Lansingburgh.
"I'm very proud of what the boys team did," Broadalbin-Perth coach Jeff Richards said. "As tight as we've run together all year, it's just amazing. This is probably the best team I've ever coached. Their depth is amazing."
B-P's top six runners finished within 37 seconds of one another and all placed among the top 14 in the Section II Class B boys race.
B-P was led by Justin Ferguson, who placed fifth with a time of 16:09.86, and Adam Rasefske, who placed sixth with a time of 16:13.85.
James Vainauskas (12th, 16:25.98), Andrew Bogdan (13th, 16:45.09) and Austin Becker (14th, 16:46.21) also posted top-15 showings for B-P.
Trever McConnell (21st, 17:12.50), Austin Reakes (25th, 17:16.50), Nate Brown (39th, 17:47.68), Patrick Brown (49th, 18:08.21) and Cameron Anastasia (73rd, 18:56.28) also competed for the Patriots.
Saturday's meet will be the second trip to states for Ferguson, Rasefske, Bogdan and McConnell.
The Broadalbin-Perth boys placed seventh at last year's state meet at Sunken Meadow State Park in Smithtown, Long Island.
Last year at states, Ferguson was 55th, Rasefske was 80th, McConnell was 85th and Bogdan was 87th.
"We would like to improve on their seventh-place finish from last year," Richards said. "If we run as tight as a team as we have been, it should help."
The Patriots will have the benefit of familiarity with the state meet course after competing at the Section VII Pre-State Invitational in Plattsburgh on Sept. 12.
"We've run there before," Richards said. "It's a very flat, fast course, and they seemed to like it."
B-P placed second to Jordan-Elbridge by a 55-69 margin in the meet's varsity B race.
Richards had hoped to bring both squads to states once again after doing it a year ago.
"It's exciting in a way and disappointing in a way," Richards said. "Our goal always is to bring both teams as one to states."
Unlike last year, the B-P boys won't be joined by the girls team, which placed second to Scotia-Glenville in the Section II Class B championship.
However, Opal Jessica Bogdan earned a second- straight trip to states for B-P, placing second at the Section II meet. She placed 37th at states a year ago.
This season has had plenty of similarities to the 2007 season for Broadalbin-Perth. B-P sent its girls team to states that year accompanied by Andrew Goodspeed from the boys team.
"A lot of things happened the same this year," Richards said. "The one year the girls missed going to state they were all sophomores, and this year's group has a lot of sophomores. Andrew Goodspeed went by himself with the girls team a couple of years ago. This year, Opal Jessica Bogdan is going by herself with the boys team."
Joining the B-P contingent will be the FFCS boys team as well as Samantha Phelps and Kim Geniti from the FFCS girls team
This year's trip to states is the first for the Braves since they won the 2005 state Class C title.
Fonda-Fultonville edged Voorheesville by one point to claim the Section II Class C crown Friday.
"For them, it's more like a weight has been lifted from their shoulders after winning sectionals," Fonda-Fultonville coach Mark Therrien said. "We're going to go and try to be as competitive as we can be, but now we can relax and enjoy what they've accomplished."
The Braves had little time to relax as they edged Voorheesville, 44-45, by placing five runners in the top 13 to win the Section II Class C title.
Voorheesville's Conor Cashin won the individual title with a time of 15:48.44. Fonda-Fultonville's Zak Godfrey was second with a time of 16:26.58.
Fonda-Fultonville's Michael Scott was eighth with a time of 16:56.23 and Cody Shave was ninth with a time of 16:57.51. Matt Hoffman (17:11.34) was 12th for FFCS, Ian Chapin (17:18.08) was 13th, Cody Russell (17:25.12) was 15th and Kyle Geniti (17:50.93) was 19th as the Braves placed seven runners in the top 20.
"We've had awesome grouping this season," Therrien said.
Mike Guiffre (21st, 18:04.82) was 21st, Tyler Angioli (33rd, 18:39.89) and Ryan Weitz (40th, 19:01.52) also competed for FFCS.
"This will be the first state meet for every single one of this group," Therrien said. "This year, we'll be going for a learning experience and to get a gauge to figure out where we fit in the mix. It will be a good experience for them."
The Lady Braves will be represented by a pair of eighth-graders in Geniti and Phelps.
"We knew Sam and Kim had a chance to go to states at least on paper," Therrien said. "I'm happy both of them were able to make it."
Geniti missed the state meet by one spot last season and earned her spot by placing second Friday in the Class C girls meet. Phelps, in her first year on varsity, earned her spots by placing fourth at the Section II meet.
"This is Sam's first year on varsity, so going to states is a big bonus for her," Therrien said. "Kim was one spot away from states last year. It's good to see her get there this time."
The Class B boys race is set for 10:15 a.m. Saturday, while the Class C boys will take to the course at 10:45 a.m.
The Class B girls race is scheduled to begin at 12:35 p.m. and the Class C girls race is set for 1:05 p.m.
