SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs boys and girls cross country teams both won the New York State Federation Championship meet last year—a feat head coach Linda Kranick believes can be repeated this year, November 16 at Bowdoin State Park.
“It is a tough thing to do to have both boys and girls do that in the same year, but we’re looking forward to that again this year because we have a great group of kids,” Kranick said.
No stranger to success, the Saratoga Springs cross country program is known for its multiple national titles, including a stretch of nine national championships in 12 years. During that run was the 2004 team that is considered by many to be one of, if not the best, high school cross country team of all time and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame last night.
But last year was the first time that both the boys and girls won the Federation Championship meet since 2001. In 2005, both the boys and girls won the state meet at Queensbury, but the boys came up just a bit short at the Federations before going on to win nationals.
This year’s boys bring back depth—an obvious key for Blue Streaks teams of the past.
“We have a T-shirt that I wear that says, ‘Individuals win races, teams win championships,’” Kranick said.
It’s a motto the team has taken to heart.
The group of boys is led by three seniors: Jay Navin, Brent Freestone and Joe Verro.
“We have three outstanding seniors, not just in their running ability, but they’re just terrific kids returning,” Kranick said. “They’ve had a great kickoff to the cross country season, great training. I’m very confident in these young men. I believe that they are right back to where we left and I’m looking forward to a great season.”
Navin had a second-place finish at last year’s sectionals and was the top Section II runner at states with a 10th place showing, before a 13th-place finish at the federation meet, as the boys won both the Section II and state titles for the first time since 2005.
“[Navin] has a tremendous work ethic and determination,” Kranick said.
The boys also return sophomore Aidan Tooker, who was the Freshman Cross Country Runner of the Year in New York State, and is “stronger and faster this year,” Kranick said.
This year is Section II’s turn to host the New York State Championships also, as Queensbury High School, a location the Blue Streaks are familiar with, will be the location for both the Section II meet and the state meet (November 1 and November 8, respectively).
“I don’t know if it’s a benefit,” Kranick said. “We like the course. The Queensbury coaches did a fantastic job in 2005. Our teams performed well then. We’re looking forward to a great Section II meet.”
The girls team enters 2013 very youthful but experienced. One of the key losses is Keelin Hollowood.
Hollowood’s protégé, Sarah Morin, is expected to carry on that leadership role—something Kranick says has already happened for the six-year varsity senior.
“Keelin Hollowood last year was a tremendous captain and senior Sarah Morin, who you could say was Keelin’s understudy last year, has really done a great job this year motivating the rest of the young girls.”
Junior Spencer Hayes has also been with the team since seventh grade and should make a strong impact as well.
Another big loss for the girls is Taylor Driscoll.
Driscoll finished first in the Suburban Council and Section II championships, fourth in the state meet and third in both the Federation meet and Northeast Regionals. She also finished ninth at the NXN National Championships in Portland, Oregon and earned First Team All-State and Senior of the Year in New York before committing to the University of Notre Dame.
Also, Olivia Morrow, who ran for the team as a sophomore last year, is now at Holy Names.
But the girls started off this year strong, as did the boys, as the Blue Streaks took down Shaker and Columbia in the season’s first dual meet this past Tuesday at Saratoga Spa State Park.
Morin took first place for the girls with a time of 18:43, while the young Tooker had the fastest overall time on the boys side at 15:22. Navin finished in a close second with 15:32 and Freestone took fourth (16:06).
The dominating victory saw six boys finish in the top seven and eight girls place in the top 10.
The team’s next meet is also at home next Tuesday, September 17.
Other Saratoga Springs runners to keep an eye out for:
Boys: Will Messier, Chris Edwards, Taylor Fenoff, Ethan North
Girls: Samantha Vetter, Keellyn Cummings, Peyton Engborg, Carley Vetter
