Without four of its top five runners, the Guilderland girls cross country team still had plenty of talent to best the field at last Saturday’s Grout Run at Schenectady’s Central Park.
The Lady Dutch placed five runners in the top 10 to claim the Division I team title with 25 points, well ahead of runner-up Niskayuna.
I’m proud of them. They ran well today, said Guilderland coach Dave Kosier.
Guilderland entered the race in rough shape. Two runners, Jen Madsen and Bridget Daley, were out with injuries, while a third runner, Erin Mossop, was coming off back spasms that kept her out of action since the middle of September. Two other runners, Lynley Joynt and Lea Cure, missed the Grout Run due to other commitments.
Mossop had a strong showing at the Grout Run, placing seventh in a time of 17:16.10. But it was the fact that other Guilderland runners stepped up that put the Lady Dutch over the top. Kelly Camardo led the charge with a third-place finish in a time of 16:37.36. Michelle Fish was fifth in time of 17:14.26, followed closely by Anna Pickett in sixth place with a time of 17:15.62. Allie DiMura (ninth place, 17:24.83) rounded out Guilderland’s top five.
`It speaks a lot for our program that was can be missing all those varsity runners and still do this well,` said Kosier.
The Guilderland boys team was also missing several key runners at the Grout Run, and unfortunately for the Dutchmen, it showed. Guilderland placed 12th out of 15 teams in a talented Division I field with 321 points.
Chris Cure led the Dutchmen with a 37th-place finish in a time of 15:14.98, but he was the only Guilderland runner in the top 40.
Shenendehowa easily won the Division I title with 18 points after its runners took five of the top six places. Queensbury was second with 68 points, and Bayport-Blue Point placed third with 145 points.
Both Guilderland teams are heading to the Manhattan Invitational Saturday in the Bronx. After that, they will focus on the Albany County Meet Friday, Oct. 17, in Colonie, the Suburban Council Championships Oct. 25 at Saratoga Spa State Park and the Section II Championships Oct. 31.
`We’re looking forward to the end of this year. I think we’ll be pretty impressive,` said Kosier.“
