Cross-Country 2008 Season Preview....
 

The 2008 Girls West Genesee Cross-Country team look to continue a tradition that includes Class AA top-25 teams the past five years and individual state championship qualifiers the past six. In 2007, the girls finished 2^nd in the Section III Championship behind eventual national champion Fayetteville-Manlius and 2^nd in the Section III merge of 53 teams.

The 2008 chapter in that tradition carries on without key graduates Katie Rothenberg and Sarah Kibby. But these ‘cats do return five of their top-7 and ten of their top-12 from that ‘07’ squad. Veteran experience will not be in short supply this fall.

The exciting aspects of the 2008 team will be improvements by returning runners and the addition of a very talented 13 member freshman squad. Put the two together and all systems are go for another great Wildcats Cross-Country season.

 ***Top Returning Runners***

 Colleen Smith(Gr 12): A two-time State Championship qualifier, Colleen will strive for three this fall. The Section III Freshman-of-the-Year in 2005, Colleen has been a consistent top Class AAA harrier. In 2007, she anchored the school record West Genesee outdoor track 4x800 relay that qualified for the state championship, and in last season’s cross-country sectional championship Colleen placed 17^th in the 472 runner sectional merge field. As a team leader, she will guide a young but talented team that hopes to again be among the best in Section III.

   Kayla Murphy(Gr 12): Kayla, a top-20 sectionals finisher for two of the past three years and a team top-5 runner in each of her three varsity seasons, will shoulder additional responsibilities as a senior team leader. After fighting injury in outdoor track this spring, Kayla looks to make her final scholastic XC season her best.

     Katie Bott(Gr 11):  Katie returns for her third varsity XC season. In 2007, she moved up the Wildcat ranks to become the team's #4 runner. Her successful XC season led to state championship qualifications in Indoor Track(600m). That was followed by a successful Outdoor Track season with individual league championships in both the 200 and 400 meter events and a second consecutive state championship qualification, this in the 400m. Katie’s growing range as a runner will be welcomed by her teammates this fall.

 Katie Riley(Gr 11): Katie was the team's #6 runner in 2007, moving up from #8 in 2006. A tireless hard worker, Katie trained for foot speed during indoor track but was then slowed in the outdoor season by an injury. A rebound with diligent summer training could land Katie a team top-5 position in 2008.

***Runners To Watch***

 Alex Incaudo(Gr 9): Following an outstanding 2007 Modified Cross-Country season, Alex moved up to the varsity level during the Outdoor Track this spring and quickly demonstrated her long-range potential with an 11:11.9 3000 meter and then a 5:04.31 1500 meter that met the Open Qualifier standard. With talent and room for improvement, additional experience and mileage should propel Alex into the upper echelon of sectional runners.

  Kaitlyn Richards(Gr 10): A high hamstring pull during 2007 summer training sidelined Kaitlyn for much of that disappointing season. Following winter strengthening, she enjoyed an injury-free outdoor track season with personal records in both the 1500 and 3000 meter events. She has already adapted to her summer training with a 2^nd place in the 1-14 age-group 5k July 4th race at Cazenovia. A driven and disciplined runner, Kaitlyn’s 2008 season should likely be a stellar one.

  Kristin Waters(Gr 12): Kristin made the switch from soccer to cross-country in 2007, but spent much of that season hobbled by an undiagnosed mineral deficiency. Indoor and Outdoor track seasons have been devoted to building endurance and speed. Kristin is ready to move into an important team leadership role this fall.

  Allison Reichel(Gr 11): Allison started slowly in 2007, then moved up through the team ranks to finish as the team’s #7 runner. Currently sidelined by a broken toe, Allison will look to maximize her remaining summer weeks, strengthen through September and charge toward the championship meets.

Season Surprises??

2008 brings to the WG trails possibly the deepest and strongest freshman group ever. Besides Alex Incaudo, that group will include 2007 top Modified XC performers Shannon Hawley and Amy Hannahan and top 2008 Modified Track performers Alyssa Sherman and Marie Cole. In addition, Brittany Ellis(Sr.) has shown continued improvement. Amanda Brown(Sr.) is also looking to make her final XC season her best, while Jessica Emanuelli(Soph.) is coming off an outstanding spring track season.   

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Since 2000, the boys’ team had battled no higher than 8^th place in the Class AA Section III championship. That changed in 2007. West Genesee put three runners in the top-20 and all five in the top-50 to place 4^th, their best sectional finish in school XC history. At the head of Wildcat line was sophomore Steve Houghmaster, who ran close to the perfect race to become West Genesee’s first Class AA individual champion. Team members had another reason for post-race satisfaction: all would return in 2008 for a chance to climb higher in the sectional/state ranks. The additional of several runners unable to compete in 2007 provide additional energy to the already exciting prospects for Wildcats XC 2008.

***Top Returning Runners***

Steve Houghmaster(Gr 11): In 2007, Steve enjoyed a rare feat: winning the Class AAA individual sectional championship while only a sophomore. He also clocked the 2^nd fastest time of the day among 591 sectional competitors. Of course, with the achievement comes the responsibility of defending that title as well as leading arguably one of the strongest West Genesee boys’ teams in school history. Steve followed his successful XC sophomore season by qualifying for Indoor Track’s state championship in the 1600 meter and enjoying a season’s PR relay 1600m split best of 4:25.1. In outdoor, Steve was nagged by late-season shin splints but still clocked impressive 4:28.14 and 2:01.31 1600 and 800 meter event times. For his junior harrier season, Steve looks to guide the ‘cats toward the top of Section III while pursuing state-level individual performances. He’s capable of both.

  Tom Hopkins(Gr 12): Tom is a runner on a mission this season. The team’s #2/3 man during the 2007 season, he placed 19^th at XC sectionals, then set off on an impressive indoor season that saw speed improvements with personal bests of 2:07.5 in the 800m and 2:44.18 in the 1000m before Tom dropped an impressive 9:59.71 3200 meter, his strength event. Injury, however, intervened, taking Tom from the entire outdoor season. Back to training in June, he has already clocked a 17:56.0 5k at the Cazenovia 4^th of July races, his first competitive effort since February. Tom’s discipline, work ethic and leadership will set the tone—and raise the bar--for this year’s team.

 Billy Gabriel(Gr 10): If you’re looking for a 1-2-3 runner punch, Billy’s just the one to have in that mix. Running with Tom Hopkins in the #2/3 spot in 2007, he placed 14^th at sectionals with his strongest race of the season. During his freshman indoor track season, Billy found even more gears, as he began polishing leg speed with 2:08.4 and 2:45.99 800 and 1000 personal records. In his premier event, the 1600m, Billy clocked an impressive 4:37.61, which qualified him for the Nike National Freshman Mile. There, Billy ran a disciplined race, finishing 7^th in the nation, less than a second out of 6^th and All-American status. During outdoor, Billy lowered his 800 meter personal record. All signals point toward a strong sophomore season on the trails by Billy—just what the Wildcats need.

 Andy Incaudo(Gr 12): If any runner provides that “X factor” for the Wildcats this fall, it will be Andy. The team’s #7 in 2006, last year, he vaulted to the #4 position by dint of hard work and hard-nosed racing. More of that will probably be served up this fall as evidenced by a solid indoor season where Andy provided personal records in every event from the 800m to the 3200m as well as a sub-11:00 3200m this spring in outdoor track. Hard work this summer by Andy could notch the Wildcats up an entire level this fall.

  Jon Richardson(Gr 12): Some of the greatest improvements by a Wildcat runner this fall will probably be demonstrated by Jon. A #5/6 runner for the ‘cats during most of the ‘07’ season, he suffered a disappointing sectional effort and is looking to make amends. Jon worked on developing foot-speed and speed endurance throughout the indoor season, doing just that by clocking 24.5, 55.2 and 1:33.60 200m, 400m and 600m times on the winter ovals. In outdoor, he expanded his repertoire, picking up the pentathlon late in the season, where he enjoyed success in the 1500m event with a 4:41.94 personal best. The fact that Jon’s 2007 summer mileage was a team-high for the Wildcats gives hint to what may be in store for his 2008 season.

 Ron Ta(Gr 12): Need a run-through-walls guy in your top-7? Ron’s your man. He started late on the 2007 season due to injury, but finished the team’s #7 runner and provided a critical 41^st place finish at sectionals as the Wildcats #5 scorer. The indoor/outdoor track season’s were Ron’s opportunity to develop his strength as a sprinter/long sprinter, with a 25.0 200m, a 53.5 400m, a 1:28.17 600m and a 2:06.5 800 meter the result. Coming up big again this fall for the Wildcats will be Ron’s goal—and the team’s gain.  

***Runners To Watch***

  Sam Reedy(Gr 11): In 2006, Sam was a rising star for the Wildcats, finishing the season as the team’s #3 runner and registering a 44^th place freshman finish at sectionals. His 2007 campaign stalled before it ever got rolling due to injury, and Sam spent the season supporting from the sidelines. Back for the 07/08 indoor season, Sam broke 11:00 in the 3200m before the snow melted and he picked up his baseball glove and spikes. Back to summer XC training, a return to the promise of 2007 will inject another strong runner in the Wildcats mix.

  Ethan Wojcik(Gr 11): Ethan was the team’s #10 runner in 2007. Consistency was the issue for Ethan, but he ended strong as the team’s 8^th runner at sectionals. A strong indoor season followed, and Ethan has demonstrated much improved foot-speed and speed-endurance. With a solid summer, Ethan could push himself into the team top-7 mix.

  Greg Moynihan(Gr 11): Greg finished the 2007 season as #9 on the team depth chart, a big jump up from 2006. Greg missed the track seasons this year and will look for a strong summer training schedule to set him up for another team top-10 spot this fall.

  Zac Karpinski(Gr 12): “Karp” is no stranger to range.”The team’s #8 man in 2007, during Indoor Track, he clocked a 24.7 200 meter as well as an 11:20 3200 meter, though his strength lies in the spring/long-sprint range. Zac could move up in the team ranks this fall, bringing some of that speed to the longer reaches of the 5k.

Season Surprises??

Matt Gonnella(Soph) enjoyed a very strong Outdoor Track season with continuous improvements.  Mike Schrank(Soph) has already logged some impressive summer workouts. Matt Serrao(Soph) started with the ‘cats during Indoor Track and has made rapid improvements through the outdoor season. Alex DeJohn(Soph) had a monster run at the 2007 Marathon Invitational, registering the 7^th fastest WG time. Bob Sova(Soph) and Ryan Gillett  may be readying for break-out seasons. Martin Leff(Frosh.) ran a very strong team time trial in June.