STREAKS SNATCH FEDS
Saratoga girls upset Shenendehowa for 23rd Federation Championship title
WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. » At the time, losing the Suburban Council meet was a tough pill to swallow for Saratoga Springs’ girls cross country team. Finishing third in sectionals behind Shenendehowa and Niskayuna to snap a streak of 17 straight was even harder.
Past disappointment didn’t stop the Blue Streaks Saturday, however.
Saratoga Springs once again proved its running pedigree with an upset of favored Shenendehowa 99109 at the New York State Girls Federation Championships at the Bowdoin Park.
It was the Blue Streaks’ 23rd Fed title under head coaches Art and Linda Kranick. In the history of the meet Saratoga Springs’ girls team has only finished outside the top two twice.
“We believe in competing in this meet because it is a state championship,” Linda Kranick said. “It’s a difficult course, a real test of how strong you are. It’s very gratifying. The first time we were down here was 1989.”
While the Shenendehowa team braved a difficult state meet course last week, the majority of Saratoga Springs’ team was well rested in preparing for the Federation meet. With NYSPHSAA Champs Fayetteville-Manlius taking the meet off, the Federation title was up for grabs for Saratoga.
Once again Kelsey Chmiel led the way with a second place finish in 17:32.5. The junior defending individual Fed Champ was beaten by North Rockland’s Katelyn Tuohy, who set a course record by 18 seconds with a 16:52.4.
Chmiel dominated the league and sectional meets for the Blue Streaks. The difference Saturday is she was backed up by big performances from her teammates.
Carly Vetter finished 32nd overall and 17th in the scoring while fellow senior Keellyn Cummings was 38th overall. Close behind were seventh grader McKinley Wheeler (42nd), Ciara Knott (56th), Samantha Vetter (60th) and Sheridan Wheeler (90th).
“It was definitely intense and a good atmosphere to run in,” Cummings said. “It makes you go even faster. It’s really exciting, it’s great to be able to do it with the whole team.”
Shen’s runner-up top five were Hannah Reale (4th overall), Olivia Lomascolo (39th), Charlotte Hartman (41st), Hannah Belleville (45th) and Luccabella Hotaling.
The win was a nice bookend for the Vetters, senior twins who’ve been on varsity for six years.
“It’s really great to end it in the same place we started it all those years ago, winning Feds,” Samantha Vetter said. “We’ve got a new set of twins on the team too.”
The performance of the two 7th- grade Wheeler twins helped clinch the title for the Blue Streaks.
After the states last week, Carly Vetter mentioned it was more fun running with a whole team. She reiterated that after the win Saturday.
“It’s definitely a team sport,” Carly Vetter said. “Everyone matters — all seven. It’s a huge team mental thing.”
For the three seniors — the Vetters and Cummings — it was their last meet representing Saratoga Springs High School cross country. Next week’s Nike XN Nationals Regional qualifier is a club running event, then the trio will transition into indoor track and field.
There was a new face with the runners and the Kranicks at Saratoga’s medal ceremony.
“We have a great new assistant Dave Davis,” Linda Kranick said of a former Fayetteville-Manlius coach. “He’s now living in this area and he’s an asset to the program.”
The Federation meet was also a big one for Ballston Spa sophomore Faith DeMars. After a rough state meet on a muddy course, she bounced back to earn a medal for her 15th overall finish.
“I knew I had to come back strong but I didn’t really know the course so it was a learning experience to get ready for (Regionals) next week,” DeMars said. “The hills really killed me but I made up for it during the downhills. I feel like I could’ve been a little lower but I’m still proud of myself.”