All-weather warriors
Saratoga Springs’ Chmiel gets second in A race, Shenendehowa’s Reale takes seventh to help Plainsmen girls finish runner-up; Greenwich’s Wright takes second in D for runner-up Witches
ONTARIO CENTER, N.Y. » By the seventh race of the day, a course that started wet and icy was essentially a mud pit.
Runners who tried to dig in literally found themselves ankle deep in mud at some points.
But everyone had to run the same track and two runners separated themselves from the pack at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Class A Girls Championship at Wayne High School Saturday.
North Rockland’s Katelyn Tuohy continued her incredible season, and justified her No. 1 national ranking, with a victory over Saratoga Springs Kelsey Chmiel, the defending state and federation champ.
Tuohy, a sophomore, managed to set the course record with a time of 17:51.4 despite the muddy conditions. Chmiel clocked an 18:32.2 to easily top Claire Walters of Fayetteville-Manlius, who finished third in 19:11.6.
“The course was pretty muddy so it was hard to pick up speed,” said Chmiel as she wiped patches of mud off after the race. “Uphills and corners were pretty rough trying to get footing. At some spots my ankle was definitely under.”
Chmiel, a junior, has dusted most of her competition for the past year so the match-up against Tuohy will be one to watch going forward into next week’s Federation meet.
“I’m excited to race her,” Chmiel said. “She will definitely push me as I try to catch her a little bit.”
Chmiel and Tuohy sprinted straight out to the lead at the start with Tuohy gaining the advantage by the first turn. Chmiel kept the pressure on but the North Rockland runner pulled away throughout the 5K.
Fellow Blue Streaks runner Carley Vetter placed 38th in the final cross country state championships of her high school career.
“It was slippery, just a lot of ankles twisting, stuck,” the senior said. “I wish we could have gone as a team but I’m happy I went with Kelsey.”
While the Saratoga Springs duo hadn’t seen a course worse than Saturday’s coaches Art and Linda
Kranick had in their three-plus decades of experience with the sport.
Shenendehowa’s Hannah Reale was seventh overall and the second fastest girl from Section II. She teamed with Olivia Lomascolo (27th overall), Hannah Belleville (31), Charlotte Hartman (41) and Luccabella Hotaling (50) to clinch second place for the Plainsmen.
“It made it fun because it took your mind off racing,” Reale said of the mud. “(Friday) we looked for the tangents, where the good spots were but (Saturday) we were the seventh race so it was all torn up.
“Everyone was going through those conditions so you can’t use it as an excuse.”
Fayetteville-Manlius’ girls team beat Shen 24-79 for their 12th consecutive state title. Shen, Saratoga Springs, Bethlehem and Guilderland have been selected to compete in next week’s Girls Federation Meet. Ballston Spa’s Faith DeMars placed 40th overall to also qualify for next week.