XC Weekend Recap: Nike Regionals Wrap Up as NXN Approaches

The Nike Cross Regionals New York meet brought together some of the best high school cross-country talent in the region, delivering exciting races and impressive performances from both individuals and teams. With national qualifying spots on the line, the athletes gave everything they had in a highly competitive environment, setting the stage for what's to come at Nike Cross Nationals.

In the boys' individual race, Ryan Sykes of Horace Greeley had a breakthrough performance, capturing the win in 15:48.1. The sophomore made a significant leap forward after finishing 11th as a freshman at last year's regional meet. Sykes capped off a stellar season with this victory, winning his last six races, including a New York State title. He ran a controlled race, pulling away late to secure the win and showcase his immense potential. Thomas Isenovski of Saratoga Springs finished second in 15:54.3, just six seconds behind Sykes, while senior William Tempest of Sutherland rounded out the podium in third with a time of 15:59.9. Senior Van Furman of Tri-Valley (16:04.0) and senior Carter Flowers of Schalmont (16:07.9) closed out the top five, both delivering strong efforts in a highly competitive field.

The boys' team race saw Monroe-Woodbury claim the title for the second year in a row, scoring 133 points. Their depth was critical, with key performances including senior Shane Golio's 2nd-place scoring finish in 16:13.5 and senior Gavin Catherwood's 12th-place scoring result in 16:35.9. These efforts, combined with scoring finishes in 9th, 26th, and 29th, helped hold off a strong challenge from Xavier. Xavier made an impressive jump this year, improving from 7th in 2023 to finish as the runner-up with 152 points. They were led by their scorers finishing 13th, 21st, 28th, 37th, and 53rd. Colonie placed third with 168 points, using a tightly packed scoring group that included scorers in 6th, 31st, 32nd, 36th, and 63rd. North Rockland (174 points) and Ithaca (177 points) rounded out the top five, in a race where every point was hard-earned.

On the girls' side, senior Zariel Macchia of William Floyd returned to the regional meet with a vengeance, winning the race in 18:09.9 and pulling away for a 13-second victory. Macchia, who did not compete in last year's meet, had an outstanding season, winning eight races and losing only once all year. Her dominant performance at regionals reaffirmed her status as one of the best in the country. Junior Leyla Bhusri of Shenendehowa finished second with a time of 18:22.9, followed by senior Emilia O'Leary of East Aurora in third at 18:36.2. The podium trio were clear standouts in a field filled with talent and experience.

In the girls' team race, Bethlehem Central delivered an exceptional performance to claim the title after finishing runner-up the past two years. Scoring just 43 points, Bethlehem placed all five of their scoring runners in the top 20 among scoring athletes, demonstrating unparalleled depth and consistency. Their dominant run was led by 8th grader Sophia Chromczak, who finished 3rd in the scoring in 18:47.9, and junior Logan Kuhn, who placed 6th in the scoring in 18:58.1. Senior Katherine Bannigan added another strong result with her 8th-place scoring finish in 19:02.8, while sophomore Anna Chrapowitzky placed 10th in scoring with a time of 19:12.9. Senior Charlotte O'Meara rounded out the scoring in 16th place with a time of 19:33.9. Their top five scorers delivered finishes of 3rd, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 16th, leaving no doubt about their dominance. Shenendehowa finished second with 131 points, led by Bhusri's individual runner-up effort and strong team scoring in 1st, 13th, 36th, 39th, and 42nd. Despite strong performances from Saratoga Springs and North Rockland, Bethlehem's scoring power and depth carried the day and established them as a team to watch at Nike Cross Nationals.