Harrier # 13 - Section III Championships

November 7, 2009 - Section III Finals

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

November 7, 2009 Edition - No. 13

The Eagle Harrier

Season Ends for J-E!

Marrero Qualifies for States

Jamesville, New York - "If you can dream it" was the mantra that drove the Jordan-Elbridge Harriers all season. The ‘dream season' unfortunately ended for the Eagles when they failed to capture the Class C crown, the title needed to compete for the coveted New York State Championship. For the second year in a row Class C rival Holland Patent will be representing Section III at the State Meet. Holland Patent, currently ranked number one in N.Y. State, looks to be an overwhelming favorite to win the State Title. Had the Eagles have won on Saturday, they'd be the favorites to win the state. "Whoever wins Section III Class C wins the state" said Section III Coordinator Jim Paccia from Tully, "everyone knows that Section III is the kingpin of Class C in New York State".
     Holland Patent had to have a spectacular race in order to beat the Eagles, as J-E was poised and psyched to
win it themselves. The Knights from HP did exactly that and pulled off a race of perfection. The final score was
Holland Patent 55, Jordan-Elbridge 71. Identical twin teammates from H.P. Dylan and Cody Racha went one-two
in the race and upset the co-favored Eagles. Dylan ran 16.27 over the muddied 3.1 mile Jamesville Course, and
Cody ran 16.39. Senior Mike Marrero, who trailed the Rachas almost the entire race, settled for fourth place in a
solid time of 16.57. "I was over forty seconds slower than at the invitational back in September" said Marrero,
"the mud on the course was horrid". Senior teammate and defending Section III Champ Cody Stanton tired over
the last mile of the course and dropped from first place back to tenth (17.32). "Cody dropped almost two minutes
from his time in September" said J-E Coach Roman, "something must have been up with his health, he must not
be fully recovered from the respiratory illness that's been plaguing him for some time now". "It appeared that
Cody simply ran out of gas".
Co-captain Greg Bader finished one place behind Stanton in 11^th place (17.33). "I felt great and I was ready"
said Bader, "I just wanted to race better and beat HP's Robert Baird (8^th place/17.11)". "We just didn't put it
together today" added Bader, "we were so close".

After J-E's fourth man Steve Slonosky finished in 18^th place (17.52), ahead of Holland Patent's fourth, J-E still
trailed by 11 points. The clincher for H.P was the finish of 4^th man Eric Stevens (21^st place/17.57) with team-
mate Tyler Evans just two places behind in 23^rd place (18.01). J-E's Mitch Alpha was 28^th (18.10). "I got spiked
and my leg went numb" said Alpha. Junior Tom Poppe was 32^nd overall (18.28). Carlin Coomey was J-E's 7^th man
and finished in 44^th place (19.06).
     Also competing for J-E was 8^th grader Jack Gugel who finished 50^th in the race (19.45).   Sophomore Robby
Patterson finished 69^th (20.47) and freshman teammate Jared Bard was 100^th (22.39). Bard was the 16^th fastest
freshman in the race.
     The heads of the Eagles were bowed low once the inevitable was announced that Holland Patent was the
Sectional Champ. "We worked so hard for this all year and losing really hurts" said Bader. Bader's sentiments
pretty much summed up the mood of all, despite the good news that senior Mike Marrero had earned a trip to the
State Meet. "It won't be the same" said Marrero, not having Cody, Greg and the rest of the team with me up in
Plattsburgh".