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September 8, 2009

Area gears up for XC Invititational

By COURTNEY LEWIS

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PLATTSBURGH — More than 800 runners are expected in Plattsburgh Saturday for the Section VII Invitational cross country meet.

The event will provide runners with a preview of the course to be used for the 2009 NYSPHSAA Cross Country Championships. But it will also serve as preparation for the people charged with putting on the state meet.

"Absolutely, this is a trial run for our coordinators — David Tyldesley and myself," Section VII boys' cross country coordinator Brian Kiely said. "And it's a trial run for the officials. Because we don't normally handle large races like this in our area."

Saturday's meet will be held at Plattsburgh State, which will also be the site of the Nov. 14 state championships.

All of the sections rotate hosting the state meet; Section VII held the meet at Lake Placid's Mt. Van Hoevenberg in 1988 and 1998.

"They did a terrific job," Kiely said. "This time, the local Plattsburgh coaches were motivated to have the meet in Plattsburgh. Since that time, Plattsburgh has built up the hotel base quite a bit. So we thought we'd give it a shot."

Preparations for this weekend's Invitational and the state meet started during the summer. Kiely said because of the size of the meets, they won't be run on the same course that the Plattsburgh State teams use.

"We're using their grounds but our own course," Kiely said. "With over 100 kids in the races, we had to make sure the trails were wide enough — trimming brush, things like that.

"Several people, particularly (Seton Catholic coaches) Keith Bombard and Kathy Champagne and (Saranac coach) Jim Medeiros and some of the other coaches have been out working on the course getting it ready."

There have been plenty of things to plan, from medical services to T-shirts to officiating. Kiely said Tyldesley has been behind much of the organization. Ryan Wrisley will compile results, Ken and Barb Drake are coordinating the officials and Dr. Russell Hartung is in charge of medical needs. Cathy Hartung designed the race T-shirts.

Kiely said the Plattsburgh High School coaches and Athletic Director Joe Staves have been involved, and several Section VII committee members have also helped.

"A lot of people in Plattsburgh are working on this," Kiely said.

This week's course will be basically the same as the one used for the state meet, though Kiely said organizers may tweak it a little if there are any problem areas on Saturday.

Saturday's field will be divided by school size into three different divisions for varsity competition and two divisions for JV. That means there will be six varsity races plus four JV races, starting at 10 a.m. and stretching to 2:30 p.m.

Section VII teams are in the B and C divisions, while the largest schools will run in the A races.

There will be a $5 parking fee to help offset the cost of the meet, and Kiely said the organizers are grateful to Temple Beth Israel, which has made its parking lot available if extra space is needed. There is no admission fee to watch the races.

Fifty one boys' teams and 34 girls' teams are expected to compete at the varsity level. Among the runners to watch will be Honeoye Falls-Lima senior Alex Deir, who finished second in Class B at last year's state meet, and defending Class D champion Michael Champagne of Seton Catholic.

The meet will open the season for most teams in the field.

Kiely, who coaches the Ticonderoga boys, said his team isn't focused on results yet.

"I think our goal this weekend, because it's so early, is to get a good time trial in," he said. "I'm not too excited about whether we do well or don't do well.

"It's a good opportunity for the kids to get out and run the state meet course. They ran it last year, but there have been changes. I think we've improved the course, and I think they'll enjoy the meet."

He added that Section VII could have a strong contingent, citing Seton Catholic, Peru and Beekmantown as talented boys' teams.

"I think we're really on the upswing as far as the boys," Kiely said. "And we have a pretty young girls' group that did well last year. So I think we'll be very competitive."

E-mail Courtney Lewis at: clewis@pressrepublican.com

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