The Inside Track
Sunday August 8, 2010
Sunday August 8, 2010: The first day of cross country practice is Monday August 23rd and the Shaker teams are anxious to get started! This week in a special edition of the Inside Track, we will take an in-depth look at the Shaker Boys team and the top teams in NYS.
Shaker Outlook: After finishing last season ranked #5 in New York, the Shaker Boys Cross Country team enters the 2010 season hoping to compete with the best teams in the state. According to Tullyrunners.com Shaker is ranked #1 in NYS in a three-way tie with Warwick and Fayetteville-Manlius. Tullyrunners states "Shaker returns 5 of their top six runners from 2009 including top runner Mike Libruk ... Shaker finished 4th at Feds (2 pts behind Warwick) and 7th at NXN-NY Regional ... Shaker would be the favorite if pre-season projections were based on recent track performances, but actual XC performance is the primary consideration ... Based on available information, Shaker is definitely one of the co-favorites entering XC 2010." Shaker is the only one of the top 10 teams in the NXN NY Regional from 2009 to return their first four finishers. Each of Shaker's top returning five showed steady improvement throughout the year, including strong performances in the outdoor season. Mike Libruk (4:25 1600M), Casey Gilboy (4:29 1600M, 9:39 3K Steeple, 9:52 3200M), Jon Vallecorsa (9:36 3200M), Kyle Foster (4:31 1600M, 9:52 3200M), and Dave Marthy (4:33 1600M, 9:49 3200M). Junior Ryan Recchia is expected to strongly compete for a varsity spot after a 9:52 3200M and 4:35 1600M in this past outdoor season. Among the athletes moving from soccer to cross country this fall are Christian Delago (1:55 800M and 4:31 1600M) and Caleb Mellon (2:00 800M and 4:35 1600M), both middle distance specialists who have not yet been tested at the longer 5K distance, but add to the incredibly deep Shaker team. Other young runners coming off solid outdoor seasons are junior Brian Hickey (10:14 3200M and 4:42 1600M) and soph Adam Schwenzfeier (10:14 3200M and 4:45 1600M) who both concentrated on the 3K Steeplechase for the last month of outdoor. Seniors Jeff Heim and Andrew Olsen are hoping to return to their form from last year's XC season and both have the potential to challenge for a varsity spot along with juniors Brian O'Connor and Jackson Ciavardoni who didn't compete during outdoor, but had solid seasons on last year's XC JV team.
NYS Outlook: The competition for the NY Cross Country AA Championship is expected to be close in 2010. Based on their #5 in New York Ranking last year and maybe the deepest pool of talent in New York entering this season, Shaker is hoping to earn its first ever State Cross Country Championship.
As Coach Springstead reminded his team in the pre-season letter, "Success is not entitled, it must be earned. Talent is of course necessary, but only a part of the equation and must be coupled with determination and the will to work hard to achieve desired success...How hard everyone works will ultimately determine how good this team will be." Without the necessary effort and commitment a talented roster of distance runners could mean little more than the best JV team in NY. Shaker's entire JV Cross Country team (#8 through #14 runners) has the potential to run sub 10-minute in the 3200M next spring in outdoor track.
Looking over last year's NXN NY Regional results along with this past outdoor season performances, most polls are expected to include a very similar list of teams along with Shaker. Among the teams at the top of the list, Warwick finished 10th in the NXN NY Regional in 2009 and is coming off a strong track season. They are expected to have a solid group behind Tim Luthin, one of the top runners in NY State.
The Fayetteville Manlius boys team has been overshadowed by the FM Girls team who have won the last four XC National Championships. Yet people often forget FM Boys were the #1 ranked team in NY in 2009. Despite losing some top runners to graduation, FM is expected to build upon last year's experience to again compete for the top spot in New York. The North Rockland team led by James Naglieri is returning four runners from last year's championship team at the Federation Meet. The Rush Henrietta team loaded with a talented junior class led by Nate Kozyra, is expected to provide Shaker and other NYS teams with strong competition for the next couple seasons. From Section 2, the Saratoga Boys team led by Sam Place, has been training hard over the summer, along with the always talented, well-prepared Shen team are expected to provide the strongest competition as Shaker attempts to be the first team other than Saratoga or Shen to win the Section 2 Class AA title in 18 years. From the other classes, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake team, led by national elite runner Otis Ubriaco is expected to compete along with Queensbury and Honeyoye Falls (Rochester area) for their own State title in Class A. All these teams are likely to be in the mix at the end of the season to compete for a Federation title and for one of the top two spots in the NXN NY Regional on November 27th that will automatically win a trip to the Nike National Championship Meet in Oregon on December 4th.
The 2010 Springstead Invitational information page has been posted on the website. If you haven't already, be sure to check this year's meet details.
Watch for more information on the visit of American Distance Runner Dick Beardsley to Colonie on Thursday, August 26th including a presentation and autograph session that evening from 6-8pm at the Colonie High School Auditorium. More details are also available from Fleet Feet Sports Albany which is sponsoring his visit. Read his bio below for more information about this motivational speaker.
Cross Country mode has begun! Check out the 2010 Cross Country Season Page for preliminary schedules, announcements, and more. The first day of practice is scheduled for Monday morning, August 23rd.
In addition, visit the 2010 Cross Country Season Page for a complete Shaker Girls Pre-Season Practice Schedule. Watch for updates to the boys schedule, especially for an announcement of the meet scheduled for Saturday, September 25th.
Portsmouth/Newport Running Camp: Nearly 20 Shaker athletes attended the 25th Annual Portsmouth/Newport Running Camp in Rhode Island this past week. A great time was had by all the runners who heard motivational stories from well-known runners including the McChesney's, Nick Rogers, Pat Tyson, and Bill Dellinger.
Preliminary Boys Cross Country Schedule
Preliminary Girls Cross Country Schedule
HEALTH OFFICE APPROVAL: Physical Forms & Recheck Cards are due in the Health Office ASAP. Only the Health Office personnel may clear you to play. (Please update your annual inhaler, EpiPen, prescription, etc). Return these forms to the School Nurse’s Office – SHS Grades 9-12 and SJHS Grades 7-8). NOTICE: It is critical that you get Health Office approval well before practice begins. ALL ATHLETES MUST be cleared by August 20th in order to start practice on Monday, August 23rd. (If not cleared by August 20th, you will need to see the Nurse on August 24th at 8:00 A.M. in the Health Office).
SPORTS INFORMATION NIGHT - PARENT/GUARDIAN ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED! (WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010 – 7:00 P.M. AT SHAKER HIGH SCHOOL.
Saturday, August 28 – Sunday, August 29
Saucony Spike Weekend @ Fleet Feet Sports
Get your Racing Spikes for the 2010 XC Season at the Cross Country Spike Weekend Presented by Saucony.
Saturday August 28 10am - 6pm
Sunday August 29 12pm - 4pm
All Saucony Spikes are 10% off this weekend only!
Technical Running Shirt with ANY Saucony spike purchase, while supplies last!
$500 Raffle Drawing for one lucky high school.
Music and Refreshments.
Stop by and say hi to Shaker runner Brian Hickey who will be working at Fleet Feet over the course of the weekend. Hope to see you there!
In keeping with past practices, the Inside Track will be published every 2 weeks during the summer. Next publication date is 8/22.
Applebees Flapjack Fundraiser to benefit the
Girls Cross Country Team
Saturday September 4, 2010 8-10 AM
Applebees Neighborhood Grill & Bar
555 Troy Schenectady Road
Latham, New York 12110
