Both squads head to state championships
The Haldane boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams each won a Section 1, Class D title on Nov. 9 at Wappingers Falls.
Both teams will compete in the state championships at Plattsburgh on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The boys won the sectional title for the 12th consecutive year, with four runners in the top 10. The other Class D schools in the section are Keio Academy and Hamilton.
The first Haldane girls’ team in three years won the Section 1 title. (Photo provided)
Junior Walter Hoess was first to finish the 5K course in 19:05, followed by junior Everett Campanile (2) at 19:08, senior Quinn Petkus (4) at 19:34 and sophomore Luke Parrella (8) at 20:02.
Conrad White (13), John Kisslinger (16), Oliver Petkus (17), Noah Bingham (18) and Heath Conrey (21) also ran for the Blue Devils.
Haldane’s Shannon Ferri, with Coach Tom Locascio) won her fourth consecutive Section 1 title. (Photo provided)
Coach Tom Locascio said he felt some pressure from other Class D teams for the first time in a few years. “In recent memory, this is by far the most nervous I’ve been,” Locascio said. “Hamilton and Keio were both strong teams this season, and they both challenged us. But the kids ran their best race — they made it look not even close.”
After a three-year absence, Haldane fielded a girls’ team this year and won the title. Junior Shannon Ferri won her fourth consecutive individual title in 21:20.5.
Eighth-grader Eloise Pearsol was second in 22:33, while ninth-grader Helen Nicholls (5) finished in 26:59, junior Allison Nicholls (8) in 28:47, sophomore Eden Feinstein (11) in 31:33 and sophomore Hannah Benson (12) in 34:14.9.
“The girls got better with every race,” Locascio said. “They’re all be back next year.”
Beacon runners
In the Section 1, Class B championship, junior Zachary Cader finished fifth in the 5,000-meter run in 17:23.7, while sophomore Evan Labelle led eight other Bulldog runners, finishing 57th in the field of 165 in 19:12.3. The boys finished 10th of the section’s 18 Class B teams.
