Burnt Hills boys XC wins 1st Fed title
Spartans cruise to first-ever NYS Federation title behind Gillooley, Berg
WAPPINGER FALLS, N.Y. » Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake running coach Chip Button has led his team to many sectional and state titles through years of cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field.
Saturday, however, was a first for him.
Aidan Gillooley finished third overall and Tyler Berg was fourth to help the Spartans cruise to their first New York State Federation Boys Cross Country Championship.
They also most likely the first team to do so with a pineapple as a good luck charm.
“They’ve got a lot a lot of goofy little things that they do, it keeps them going,” Button said of the pineapple tradition that started after a runner-up Federation finish a year ago.
Going into Saturday’s 5K race at Bowdoin Park, Burnt Hills had sent its boys team to the Federation meet 20 times. They’ve been runner-up multiple times, third, fourth, fifth and 10th. This team is the first to win, however.
“Last year we were nine
points out of first,” Button said. “They ran well. Last week was hard not just because it was a state meet but because of the conditions. They were running on frozen mud. For Aidan and Tyler to come out and run the way that they did, and Evan (Brennan) had another great race. It was awesome.”
Mason Gatewood of St. Anthony’s was first overall in 15:52.4 followed by Silas Derfel of Ithaca. Gillooley and Berg were next and Brennan was 13th overall. That means the Spartans were not just only team with two runners in the top 15 but the only team with three top 15 finishers as well.
Gillooley may have been able to challenge for The New York State Federation Championships at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls Saturday. the individual title if he hadn’t slipped as the rain picked up throughout the race.
“Coming down one of the hills I slipped and fell,” Gillooley said. “It set me back a bit but I got back up. We’ve been working hard all year as a team to focus on winning Feds.”
The top three were supported by Michael Messere – the lone senior – David Metacarpa, Nick Hunziker and Kevin Board.
Burnt Hills finished with 80 points to top second place Xavier’s total of 105. Fairport was third with 134 followed by Northport (135) and fellow Section II rivals Bethlehem (192).
After dominating the Section II meet, state meet and Federation meet in successive weekends, the Spartans will try to do it again at a Nike XN Regional qualifier back at Bowdoin Park next week. A top two finish in that race will qualify the team for Nationals in Oregon.
“We’re just going to do the same thing next week,” Gillooley said. “Getting ready for Oregon is the main goal.”
Knowing this team, that will include another trip to Stop and Shop for a fresh pineapple.