The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Runners flock to VVS
VERONA, N.Y. >> 128 teams and 1,369 runners descended on the Vernon-Verona- Sherrill cross country circuit on Saturday at the 15th annual VVS Invite.
Though Peyton Geehrer (16:15.7) and his Fayetteville-Manlius side claimed the top overall team and individual spots on Saturday, the hosting Red Devils had a strong showing at their home invite, claiming the last spot in the Top 10 in a field of 59 complete teams.
Joseph Guertin recorded an 18:22.4 to claim the 46th fastest time on the day. Teammate Andrew Wright followed with a 74th place individual finish at 18:47.8, and Spencer Walker posted a 19:01.1, good for 95th, to give VVS a trio of runners in the Top 100.
“[ We] finished 3rd in Race #1 behind FM and Class C contender Skaneateles. We were very happy with that finish but even more pleased when we ended up 10th in the merged results (out of 59 complete teams),” said VVS coach boys cross country Mike Dunne. “We knew Class C would be tough this year due to Westhill and Skaneateles bringing back such strong teams (in addition to CBA, JE and Cooperstown) but we did end up finishing ahead of all Class B teams in the field and are very pleased with there we stand early in the season. Joe Guertin was our top finisher (14th in Race No. 1, 42nd merged). The rest of our team ran very well and we had the 5th tightest compression (distance between 1st and 5th guy) in the entire field.”
“Overall, we know its early and some teams were probably working out versus racing, but we also aren’t peaking right now,” Dunne continued. “Hopefully, our improvement and progression throughout the season will be on par with if not better than other teams.”
Camden claimed a 28th place teamfinish, bolstered by a Jeremy Plumly time of 18:24.2, which was good for 49th overall.
Cazenovia ended the day in 31st. Jared Smith gave the Lakers a huge boost with a 21st individual finish after posting a sub-18 minute mark at 17:37.3.
Oneida placed 48th at the teamlevel. Lead runner Nathaniel Jennings recorded a 19:12.2, good for 113th.
Fayet tevi l le- Manlius roared to a first place finish in the girls’ competition even though Tully’s Brooke Rauber claimed the fastest time of the day with an 18:11.6.
A pair of Red Devil seniors helped the hosts to a 14th place team finish. Delaney Brewer led the Red Devils with a 19:59.8 mark, good for the 14th best individual time out of a field of 572 runners on Saturday. Olivia Furman placed 33rd with a 21:22.2.
Camden finished in eighth place out of a field of 49. Blue Devil sophomore Elizabeth Lucason closed the day in the Top 10, posting a 19:20.3 on her way to a seventh place overall finish. TeammateHaleyHinds posted the 41st fastest time on the day with a 21:36.9.
Cazenovia closed the invite with a 17th overall finish, buoyed by a 22:14.4 from lead runner Molly Hart, who clocked in as the 65th fastest runner.
Chittenango grabbed the 33rd team spot, led by a 24:21.6 from Kiara Waite.
Oneida, unable to field a complete team on Saturday, was paced by Amelia Bowman’s 23:18.0, a mark that earned her the 120th individual spot.
Like Oneida, Hamilton was unable to field a complete team, but Alexis Lapp represented the Emerald Knights with a 22:19.7 to earn a 69th individual placement.
For a list of complete results, visit: https://results. leonetiming. com/ XC.html?mid=1754