Weilbaker’s late closing kick nets title
Saratoga runner wins despite not feeling his best; team also triumphs
Shea Weilbaker admitted he wasn’t feeling his best at the starting line before taking to the 5-kilometer course at Queensbury High School, but once the Saratoga senior got going, the Division I race was all his.
Weilbaker stalked the race leaders for the first mile before making the race his own, finishing with a strong kick and running alone down the closing chute Saturday at the Queensbury Invitational.
“I just tried to stay behind the leaders a little bit. I was right next to them,” Weilbaker said. “Right after the mile, I started to make a move. I didn’t feel great today but I’m really happy for the effort. The last 800, I heard people yelling that runners were coming so I just put my head down and tried to get to the finish.”
The invitational is the first this season for Weilbaker, one of the top-ranked Class A runners in the state.
Weilbaker came into the season looking to improve as the season goes along, conserving energy for the invitationals with an eye on the postseason.
So far, so good.
“The dual meets, I force myself to hold back a little bit and to come out here and let it all go, feels great,” Weilbaker said. “I’m perfect where I am. Last year, I went a little too hard early and it cost me at the end of the season, burning out. I’m really happy with this effort and I know I’m definitely going to get better.”
Weilbaker crossed the line in 15 minutes, 39.06 seconds with teammate Ezra Ruggles finishing sixth to help the Blue Streaks claim the team title over runnerup Ballston Spa.
Marty Dolan (Niskayuna) was second, followed by Bethlehem’s Matt Cavaliere.
Greenwich, a Class C school, stepped up into the girls’ Division I race and powered by top-five efforts from Nina Sgambelluri and Brynne Wright, won the team championship in a field including well-regarded Class A schools Bethlehem and Niskayuna.
Sgambelluri, a freshman, finished second behind Alice Larson of Champlain Valley (Vt.) in her first varsity invitational after competing for the Greenwich modified team last year.
“It was difficult, but I liked the course a lot. This is actually my first year doing varsity so it is my first time on the course,” Sgambelluri said. “My goal was to be in the top five and to have no regrets. I love cross country, it is my favorite season of running.”
The invitational was the first for Greenwich after opening its season with a dual meet earlier in the week.
“I hadn’t really had the chance to judge what my time might be,” Sgambelluri said. “I got off to a decent start but I lost my place a little bit. I came back and kept picking them off one by one.”
Defending champ Faith Demars was third, followed by Wright and Bethlehem’s Gillian Roeder.
Evan Ensslin of Voorheesville won the boys’ Division II race in 16:30.37 and Maple Grove won the team title.
Greenville sophomore Tess Fitzmaurice won the girls’ Division II race in 19:39.71 while Mount Greylock won the team championship.