RACING TO THE TOP OF THE CLASS
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> As much as some things changed, they stayed the same Friday at Saratoga Spa State Park as the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake boys and girls cross country teams, Maple Hill boys squad and the Greenwich girls remained the class of Section II cross country in their current and new classifications.
The Saratoga Springs girls squad returned to the top of the Class A’s after a one-year hiatus at the hands of Shenendehowa last year while the Shenendehowa boys edged out the Blue Streak boys squad by just three points, but saw Shea Weilbaker take the top spot.
Shenendehowa edged out Saratoga by three points, 6063, for the Class A boys title and Shea Weilbaker needed to make a move on Bethlehem Central’s Matt Cavilere in the stretch to take home the overall title.
“I knew who he was and he’s an 800 (meter) runner, so 200 to go, you don’t want an 800-runner right in front of you. I just knew strength always dominates over speed in a cross country race,” Shea Weilbaker said. “I didn’t feel the best today, but I’m just happy to get the win in and the point.”
He also carried with him the pressure of earning one point for the Blue Streaks and giving his squad a leg up on the Saratoga Springs senior Kelsey Chmiel heads to her fourth straight Section 2Class A title, leading the field Friday morning at Saratoga Spa State Park. Saratoga Springs runner Shea Weilbaker moves up on, then along and then in front of Bethlehem’s Matt Cavaliere in the Section 2Class A boys championship race Friday at Saratoga Spa State Park.