What's New

Jordan-Elbridge Cross Country 2010 Bios 2010 Rookie Harriers 2010 - Photos Hall of Fame - First Group Inducted Hall of Fame - Page 2 2009 Harriers Meet the 2009 Squad Meet the Squad Page 2 2009 Photos Photos/Biographies of 2008 Squad 2009 Photo Slide Shows **UPDATED** **UPDATED**All Time Manhattan Times Guestbook JE Cross Country History 1997  Select Historical Photo Page Hist  Photos - Page 2 Harrier # 14 - State Meet and Season Highlights Bryan Place and Paul Williams Memorial Historical Photos (posted Jan., 2010) Favorite Links

Skaneateles, Phoenix Harrier - Wed., Oct. 7, 2009 - Ed. # 8

Visit http://www.jecrosscountry.com/ to see photos, race results, and former J-E teams.

 

October 7, 2009                                                                                                                    Edition - No. 8

The Eagle Harrier

Team Terrific!  

Pack Mentality Serves Eagles Well

Jordan, N.Y. - Yesterday, the Jordan-Elbridge cross country team proved that there is no "I" in team.  "No team is spelled T - E - A - M" as senior co-captain Mike Marrero humorously chimed in.  No spelling lessons were needed as the Eagles raised their league record to a perfect 6 and 0 with a 20 - 41 drubbing of neighboring Skaneateles.  By running softly as a pack, the Eagles could save their energies for bigger races that are just around the corner.  "The top seven guys all ran 20.21 for our three mile course which is like a threshold pace for them" said J-E Coach Roman, "we are good enough now where we don't have to race as hard as we can to win".  Junior Derrick Cheney would disagree with Roman as he said: "I had to run my guts out to catch up with the pack, it wasn't easy".

     Senior pace setter Cody Stanton was a late scratch to the race as he's been hampered with a nasty cold for several days.  Stanton said he wanted to race, but only "half-heartedly" said Roman, so we pulled the plug on him today.  "Cody has a hard time letting anyone beat him, so for him to go out and jog with the group and to let runners from Skaneateles or Phoenix beat him would have been very difficult for him". 

     Skaneateles senior Calvin Davis (17.35) was the individual race winner cruising to a two-plus minute victory over Phoenix's Steven DenBlyker (19.37).  Stanton's winning time and course record against CBA just one week earlier was 16.25, and Davis' time would have put him sixth in that race.  DenBlyker from Phoenix was running with the JE pack until they let him pull away after the half-way point of the race.  "He wanted to race so we let him go today" said junior co-captain Greg Bader, "it was awesome how we worked as a team".

     By team vote, eighth grader Jack Gugel was selected to receive the third-place card.  "We thought it would be a thrill for him" said Marrero.  As is seen in the photo above, seven Eagles tied for third place, a feat not equally in many many years. 

     Just behind the lead pack was senior Kyle Alpha who was competing for the last time on the JE course.  Alpha finished a personal best 12th place (21.26).  Ironically, Alpha was outkicked by the offspring of a former JE star runner who now resides in Skaneateles.  Brad Wolfanger, brother of the JE track and field coach Todd Wolfanger, ran for Coach Roman for four years, and his son Danny showed some true speed outpacing Alpha.

     A freshman pair of Jared Bard and Billy "The Hit Man" Direnzo were 19th and 20th respectively (22.50).

     JE travels to Manhattan on Friday to race in the nation's largest high school cross country race.  The race is held annually at Van Corlandt Park in the Bronx.  "We've traveled to New York City every year since 1987 and only missed the race twice" said Coach Roman.  "In all, 237 JE runners have competed in this prestigious race and each of their times are available on http://www.jecrosscountry.com/. 

     In one week, the Eagles will race for the league championship against arch rival Marcellus.  It will take another tremendous team effort and a healthy Stanton to win the crown.  If Wednesday's meet versus Skaneateles is any indication of the Eagles' fate in the league championship, I would recommend putting your money on JE.

 

                        ~Coach Roman~