October 1, 2009 Edition - No. 8
The Eagle Harrier
Bruised Brothers!
J-E Overwhelms CBA, Solvay
Jordan, New York – The high flying Eagles of Jordan-Elbridge put on their racing faces yesterday and smiles on others’ faces on a dark, damp, and dreary day. Despite the less-than-perfect racing conditions, they found a way to make the day enjoyable for the local supporters.
Seniors Cody Stanton and Mike Marrero led the Eagles across the finish line on the newly revamped J-E course, with Stanton taking first and Marrero finishing third. Since this was the first time run on the new course, Stanton’s 16.25 was a new course record. “I was nervous before the race” said Stanton, “I didn’t want Mike to beat me”. Marrero, still smarting from another finish-line collapse, commented: “I don’t know what’s up with my races lately, I keep getting beat at the finish line”. Marrero was referring to the ferocious kick that CBA senior Tom Voorheis made to overtake Marrero right at the finish line. “You’ve got to give Voorheis credit” said J-E Coach Roman, he didn’t fall apart despite the fast pace set by Cody and Mike”. “This wasn’t so true about CBA’s normal number one man though, as fellow senior Matt Giannino ran so hard to stay with Mike and Cody, that he cramped up badly and crumbled finishing over a minute off their pace”.
Greg Bader ran an inspired race and fulfilled his goal to break up CBA’s top two runners. “I’ve never had great luck against Giannino or Voorheis” said Bader, “and I really wanted to split these guys up”. “I felt so strong, my race was perfect”. Bader put himself in such good position that he almost beat Solvay’s senior all star Matt Fedrizzi who finished fourth, one place ahead of Bader. Fedrezzi ran 16.55 over the 3.0 mile J-E course and Bader ran 17.10, but the pair ran together for over half of the race.
Sophomore Steve Slonosky ran his usual race, but finished with some very unusual circumstances. Chugging down the closing stretch and chasing CBA senior Matt Giannino, Slonosky appeared to have run out of room and gas to pass the CBA senior. Then, inexplicably, the CBA harrier who was obviously confused, stopped just short of the finish line. Giannino’s miscalculation was Slonosky’s good fortune. Slonosky passed a gassed Giannino just feet from the finish to take the important seventh place card. The CBA runner, after realizing his mistake, walked across the finish line for an eighth place finish. “I really feel bad and partially responsible” said Coach Roman, “we never painted a finish line and there was no clear delineation of where the finish actually was”. “My bad totally”. “We will fix this for our next race”. Slonosky’s time was a solid 17.51.
Mitch Alpha scored for the Eagles in his second straight dual meet finishing in ninth place (18.03). Alpha was particularly motivated by several factors, the biggest being his race last Saturday at B’ville where he got buried at the start and never fully recovered. On Wednesday, Alpha got out fast with teammates Steve Slonosky and Tom Poppe and he and the team benefited from his improved strategy. Tom Poppe, battling a pre-race bloody nose, was twelfth overall (18.16) and ran a very gutty race. “Tom was injured when he and a teammates pre-race chest bumping handshake went horribly awry”. Poppe added: “I was swallowing blood for the entire race and it was awful”. “I looked at Pops just before the race and he had cotton stuffed into both nostrils” said Roman, “I was like, Tom, what’s up”? “You never know with this year’s squad”. Eighth grade phenom Jack Gugel was J-E’s seventh man completing his first three mile race in 18.35. Gugel beat both CBA’s and Solvay’s fifth man, thus guaranteeing himself of a varsity letter. Just behind Gugle was junior Carlin Coomey who finished 17th (19.32). Coomey is nursing a sore quad which made running the J-E course with all of its hills a struggle. “This was the first time we ran Kamakaze Hill” said Coomey, “it was mad hard”.
The next two J-E runners to finish, Rob Patterson and Kyle Alpha, both showed some incredible meddle to even compete. Patterson was 22nd (20.07) and Alpha was 26th (20.54). “Rob has been feeling sick the last few days and Kyle’s on steroids for an upper respiratory infection, but neither would sit out”. “Their perseverance is inspiring”. Alpha was asked after the race if he could get any air into his lungs and he responded: “not much”.
Junior Derrick Cheney battled a cramp for the second half of the race, finishing in 28th place in a sub par time of 21.46. Freshman Billy Direnzo was 30th (23.13).
Derrick Cheney shows off his undergarments so Coach Roman can win a bet with his son. The bet was whether Cheney wore spandex. Coach Roman obviously won the bet! |
