National Weekend Rundown for October 3

National Weekend Rundown
Johanna Gretschel

McQuaid Invitational (NY)

RESULTS

ON-SITE COVERAGE:
Race Videos
Interview Videos
Photo Gallery by Kyle Brazeil (All Divisions)
Photo Gallery by Bill Wende (Girls Unseeded Varsity A-2)
Photo Gallery by Bill Wende (Boys Unseeded Varsity A-3)
Photo Gallery by Bill Wende (Girls Unseeded Varsity A-3)
Photo Gallery by Bill Wende (Girls Jr High #1)

Noah Affolder 14:14, Canadian Shona McCulloch 16:35 Take Down Course Records



Perhaps they're not the names you were expecting, but Noah Affolder (14:14.9) and Shona McCulloch (16:35) rewrote the record books on Saturday at the McQuaid Invitational, the biggest invitational in New York to date that fittingly produced a number of storylines:


Junior Affolder of Carthage High School, N.Y. demolished his prior three mile personal best (15:05) with the 14:14 course record time in the Seeded Boys AA division. He ran splits of 4:42/9:30 for one and two miles, going on to break the prior course record by 10 seconds. Affolder won the race by 39 seconds over Edward Hayfron of Birchmount Park (14:53.1) as his freshman brother, Sam, took third in 14:58.


The unranked Affolder's time held as the fastest of the day even after the Varsity AAA race, which featured a battle between No. 20 ranked Ben Petrella and No. 25 ranked Kenny Vasbinder. The duo started at 4:53 for the first mile and were never able to get close, as Petrella pulled away to win, 14:32.9 to 14:49.0.


Controversial Jesuit Tiebreaker In Boys Varsity AAA Team Scoring

There was more than individual glory on the line for Petrella and Vasbinder, as their respective Liverpool and East Aurora squads were in the running for the overall team titles.

Both teams scored 65 points. Liverpool had a 1:14 top five spread and 15:13 three mile average, while East Aurora had a 53-second spread and 15:15 average. East Aurora's No. 6 man, Will Zink, finished 28th - putting him ahead of Liverpool's No. 6, Ryan Comstock (36th), which normally would grant EA the title. But because McQuaid is a Jesuit school, they score the invitational as a dual meet which put Liverpool on top.


Sage Hurta Puts The Hurt On Varsity A Race, 16:58.4

Senior Sage Hurta of Hamilton High School ran a solo 16:58.4 to beat out Kaycie Saucier of Norwood-Norfolk Central in the morning's Seeded Varsity A race. Her time got the meet off to a quick start and stood at the time as the 12th-fastest in meet history.

Canadian Shona McCulloch and Saucony Flo50 No. 22 Abbey Wheeler 16:35, 16:36 Break Course Record

Canadian Shona McCulloch (bib no. 4328) pushed the pace alongside No. 22 ranked Abbey Wheeler (2209) as No. 16 ranked Jessica Lawson ran in third. (Photo by Kyle Brazeil)

The Varsity Girls Seeded AAA featured two girls under the course record in Canadian Shona McCulloch (16:35) and No. 22 ranked Abbey Wheeler (16:36), somewhat of an upset over No. 16 ranked Jessica Lawson (third, 16:51). Lawson typically has the upper hand in cross, but Wheeler's win marks her as perhaps the fastest harrier in the Empire State right now.

Another big name with a breakthrough was Sammy Watson of Rush-Henrietta, the IAAF World Youth Champion for 800 meters. The 2:03 performer set a new three mile personal best in 17:35.4.


Unranked Shenendehowa Upsets No. 11 Centerville, Even Without 2 of Top 5

With the Great American XC Festival in North Carolina cancelled due to poor weather conditions, the No. 11 ranked Centerville girls of Ohio decided to make a last-minute trip to New York for McQuaid. The result was interesting from a national rankings perspective, as unranked Shenendehowa (albeit, No. 6 in Pre-Season Rankings) took down Centerville, 75 to 81. Don't underestimate the stress of travel, but even still - Shenendehowa did not race two of their top five.

Centerville benefited from a tighter spread (44 seconds), but Shenendehowa got their top two in between Centerville's No. 1, Lainey Studebaker (7th overall, 17:29). Centerville averaged 17:56.6 for three miles while Shenedehowa averaged 17:49 with a 1:10 top five spread.

National Weekend Rundown

Saucony Flo50 National XC Rankings: