Sachem North Girls and Boys cross-country teams compete at the Manhattan College Invitational every year. Van Cortlandt Park’s (VCP) 2.5-mile course (and 1.5-mile Freshman course) features iconic course sections named Freshman Hill and the Back Woods. Runners re-enter the park following the grueling backwoods and begin an 800-meter drive to the finish line on a path along Broadway Avenue. Every harrier that has run the course in the 51-year history of the race has a mark that can be compared to the hundreds of thousands of runners who have run the same course on the second Saturday in October.
Both North cross-country teams traveled with Middle School squads of 7th and 8th-grade athletes from Samoset and Seneca (runners who will attend North represented the Seneca squad) on Saturday. The Manhattan College Invitational has featured an Intermediate (Middle School) Race since 2017. Six girls and seven boys represented North’s Middle School program.
A light drizzle dampened the 1.5-mile course (Middle School runners race the Freshman 1.5-mile course at the meet) but did not dampen the spirits of the two race squads. All runners were excited, poised, nervous, and prepared for the biggest races of their young careers on Saturday morning.
The cheers of 50 North girls and boys were loud for the girls and boys “Sachem North Middle School” squads at the start of the two races and even louder as each runner approached the finish line. Special race highlights included top 75 Finisher medals to Brian Mormon (Seneca) and James Paulini (Samoset).
“Thanks to all parents of our Middle School squads for your support of our special program day,” said Sachem coach Alex Young. “Some parents could travel to VCP to cheer on our future stars. Thank you to Coach Byrne (Samoset XC) and Coach Michta (Seneca XC) for all your help in planning our program first. Thanks to Gary, Tom, and Joe for all you did for this meet and the girls and boys XC teams. Our biggest thanks go to 13 young runners who demonstrated the best qualities of Sachem athletes at the 51st Manhattan College Invitational.”
BOYS RACE
Andrew Furlan (8) Samoset
James McSweeney (8) Samoset
Patrick McSweeney (8) Samoset
William Mitrey-Lynch (8) Samoset
Brian Mormon (8) Samoset
James Paolini (8) Seneca
Jack Woods (7) Samoset
GIRLS RACE
Kallie Butler (7) Samoset
Reese Crawford (7) Samoset
Christina Gobes (7) Samoset
Fiona Gugliotta (7) Samoset
Dilana Kosiba (8) Samoset
Sophia Tackett (8) Seneca
Manhattan College Invitational: Biggest medal haul in program history!
The Manhattan College Inv. features 75 top-finisher medals in every race. And there were over 40 races today. Getting a medal is tougher than it looks, as there could be more than 200 runners on a starting line.
Sachem’s 24-runner JV D Race squad lined up in one of the heavier rain periods of the always raining day.
The team goal was to start fast, establish position, and stay strong in the back woods where footing on the roller coaster-like 1.25 loop could be treacherous in wet conditions.
Alyssa Leonardi got out fast, running in the lead pack with many of her teammates close behind. Less than 20 minutes after Alyssa began her best race of the season, she crossed the finish line in 16th place. 16 would be a more special number as our next 15 runners, like Alyssa, earned top-finisher medals.