On Saturday, November 5 the Bears cross country teams had their last regular meet of the season competing in sectionals on the Cedarview Golf Course in Massena. This course is very flat and bouncy, leading to fast times although the strong wind and surprising 70-degree November weather slowed runners down. The boys’ team placed third in Class C and sent three runners to states, and the girls’ team placed second in Class C, sending two runners to states.
The boys ran first, and in the overall race, Norwood-Norfolk took three of the top five spots. Junior Dominic Fiacco placed first (16:58.90), followed by his senior teammates Anthony Fiacco (17:41.34) and Bradley Lance (18:14.23) in third and fourth. Senior Watson Chodat placed second overall for Franklin Academy, a Class B school, and Salmon River sophomore Gunner Mitchell placed fifth (18:34.95). For each class in Section X, the winning team sends five runners to states, and up to five other runners in that class can qualify individually.
In Class B, Franklin Academy placed first with 19 points, and Massena freshman Andrew David (ninth place, 18:57.31) qualified for states. In Class C, Norwood-Norfolk was first with 26 points, Salmon River was second with 53 points, Canton was third with 60 points, Potsdam was fourth with 73 points, and Gouverneur was fifth with 141 points. The individual qualifiers were Salmon River sophomore Gunner Mitchell, Salmon River Senior Cayde Lazore (seventh place, 18:46.76), and Canton Sophomores Kaden Worthley (tenth place, 19:03.19), Lucas Watts (11th place, 19:06.65), and Daniel Armendariz-Huang (12th place, 19:09.30). Brushton-Moira won for Class D. Canton sophomore Rylan Lee-Powell was also a receiver of the Section X Outstanding Sportsmanship Award.
In the girl’s race, Norwood-Norfolk took the top three spots with their runners senior Sharon Colbert (first, 20:05.98), freshman Madison Carista (second, 20:07.18), and junior Rachel Hewey (third, 21:02.69). Canton Freshman Bennett Schmitt placed fourth with a 21:10.75, followed one second after by Canton Senior Grace McDonough who placed fifth with a 21:11.56.
For Class B, Franklin Academy won with 15 points. For Class C, Norwood-Norfolk placed first with 21 points, followed by Canton in second with 50 points, and Gouverneur in third with 58 points. Individual Qualifiers were Schmitt, McDonough, Gouverneur Senior Rikki Griffith (sixth, 21:43.79), Salmon River junior Jasmine Oakes (ninth, 22:05.22), and Gouverneur junior Meredith Bush (tenth, 22:10.50). Brushton-Moira won for Class D. Canton seniors Rori McCarthy and Wyatt Newman won Athlete of Distinction awards, and Canton sophomore CJ McKinley was given a Section X Outstanding Sportsmanship award.
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