Saratoga Cross-Country Delivers At Suburban Council Championships – Isenovski, Bush Win Individual Titles; Saratoga Boys Win Team Championship

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity boys cross country team captured the 2023 Suburban Council team championship after a balanced effort at the Saratoga Spa State Park on Saturday.

Thomas Isenovski won the Suburban Council boys individual title for the Blue Streaks, leading a group of six Saratoga runners placing in the top 30 finishers. With 73 points, the Blue Streaks’ boys team held off second-place Guilderland (77 points) for the team title. 

Saratoga’s Emily Bush took home the Suburban Council girls individual title, with Anya Belisle earning a second-place finish. Despite the duo earning the top two spots in the girls race, the Saratoga girls team (50 points) finished second to Bethlehem (37 points).

For the second straight season, the Blue Streaks’ boys program swept the Suburban Council meet, with their modified, freshman, and JV teams also earning team victories in their respective races on Saturday.

“That was a goal that the team had from, really, the beginning of our summer training,” said Saratoga boys head coach Shane Zanetti of the program sweep. “It was really exciting to have that come to fruition.”

The Saratoga girls team was paced by Bush (17:09.8) and Belisle (17:47.8), the race’s top two finishers. The Blue Streaks also received top-20 finishes from Reagan Owen (14th, 18:41.7), Tong Ang (16th, 18:51.1), Katie Turner (17th, 19:00.9), and Heidi Berglund (19th, 19:05.3).

Linda Kranick, one of the Saratoga girls coaches, said she was “very proud” of Bush and Belisle earning the top two spots. She noted that both runners are seniors, and that the Suburban Council championships would be the last time they ran a cross country race at the Saratoga Spa State Park.

The Blue Streaks’ varsity boys were led by Isenovski (15:22.3), with Darren Pasek placing seventh (16:05.5), and Luke Dacey placing 16th (16:19.1). The Saratoga boys team also received strong finishes from Jacob Bernd (20th, 16:29.4), Hudson Shaw (29th, 16:44.4), Cooper Brandriss (30th, 16:45.9), and Owen Blaisdell (50th, 17:07.0).

Zanetti gave credit to Isenovski, who he noted led the pack for a majority of the race, saying he ran “a really smart race.”

“He’s only a sophomore, but he’s got a lot of experience running at a high level already,” said Zanetti of Isenovski. “He’s a really intelligent racer, and he loves to compete.”

Zanetti also credited Pasek and Shaw for stepping up during the race.

With the Suburban Council Championships behind them, the Blue Streaks’ cross country teams attention now turns to the Section 2 Championships at Queensbury High School this weekend. 

“We were pleased with the way the girls ran, but we’ve got more work ahead of us,” said Kranick.

Kranick said the girls team has continued to improve and gain experience during the fall, and made note of several younger runners who have stepped up, including Owen, Ang, Berglund, and Turner among others.

“All you can ever ask an athlete to do is give it their all and do the best you can,” Kranick said of the team’s mindset entering sectionals. “That’s always been the emphasis.”

On the boys side, Zanetti said the Blue Streaks are entering this weekend with the goal of bringing home another team victory.

“Our goal is definitely to win sectionals and move onto states, and hopefully be successful there,” Zanetti said of the boys team’s mindset.