Christian Brothers Academy’s Justin Van Epps and Shaker’s Maryanna Lansing won individual titles at Friday’s Section II Cross Country Championships at Queensbury High School.
Van Epps became the first CBA runner to claim a Sectional title in nearly 30 years when he finished first in the boys Class B race with a time of 16:12.94. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake’s John Rabideau was second with a time of 16:17.85, and BH-BL’s Jared Short finished third with a time of 16:33.47.
Two more CBA runners finished in the top 10. Liam O’Brien was sixth with a time of 16:42.83, and Nick O’Brien placed ninth with a time of 16:55.69.
CBA fell short of winning the Class B team title, though, as BH-BL finished first with 32 points. The Brothers claimed second place with 45 points. Van Epps and Liam O’Brien qualified for the state meet as individual runners.
Lansing was the fastest female at Sectionals, as she posted a winning time of 18:43.82 in the girls Class A race. Saratoga Springs’ Samantha Vetter — who defeated Lansing at last weekend’s Suburban Council meet — was second with a time of 19:00.46, and Shenendehowa’s Danielle Jordan finished third with a time of 19:05.91.
Saratoga continued its run of girls Sectional titles by winning the Class A championship with 50 points. Guilderland surged to a second-place finish with 64 points, and Colonie placed third with 72 points.
Lansing and Jordan will be joined on the Section II team at states by Colonie’s Bellame Bower and the Guilderland duo of Emily Burns and Jenna Robinson. Bower was fourth with a time of 19:07.35, Burns took fifth place with a time of 19:09.93 and Robinson placed sixth with a time of 19:11.54.
Saratoga also won the boys Class A team title with 52 points. Shen was second with 84 points, and Colonie claimed third place with 90 points.
Saratoga’s Aidan Tooker earned the individual title with a time of 15:43.13. Bethlehem’s Stephen Booker was second with a time of 15:55.06, and Columbia’s Kyle Gronostaj finished third with a time of 16:01.12.
Colonie brothers Jake and Jordan Johnson and Bethlehem’s Alex Carlson round out the Section II Class A boys team going to states. Jake Johnson was fourth with a time of 16:09.74, while Jordan Johnson placed fifth with a time of 16:11.52. Carlson finished sixth with a time of 16:14.28.
The state meet begins Saturday, Nov. 9, at 8:45 a.m. in Queensbury.
