By BOB GOETZ
PLATTSBURGH — It seemed only fitting that the first state cross-country championships to be held in Plattsburgh would start off Saturday showcasing the area's best runner.
And Seton Catholic's Michael Champagne did not disappoint the home crowd.
The premier runner in Section VII and a reigning state champion, Champagne survived a spill 500 yards from the finish and rolled down the lane to win the Class D race in 15 minutes, 54 seconds for 5,000 meters (3.2 miles). He finished nearly six seconds ahead of runner-up Matt Cheney of Beaver River.
"The hometown fans really helped me," Champagne acknowledged. "I could hear the horns and the cheering; it was great."
Four earn medals
Champagne, who led his Knights to a third-place finish in the team competition, was one of four Section VII runners to crack the top 20 and earn medals from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
Anna Rabideau came in 10th for the Seton Catholic girls, who wound up seventh among Class D teams.
And Beekmantown's Brendan Courneene (16:13.4) and Adam Shearer (16:13.9) placed 11th and 12th, respectively, helping the Eagles nail down fifth place. It was an impressive showing for the Eagles, who were looking for Courneene and Shearer to finish in the top 25 and the team to sneak in seventh.
The meet, which attracted 1,200 runners to the Plattsburgh State course, went off without any real hitches, save for the rain, which began falling three races in and made for tricky footing.
F-M's amazing sweep
The most amazing performance was turned in by the Fayetteville-Manlius girls, who showed why they are the defending national champions by sweeping the first five places in Girls Class AA. Only 11 seconds separated race-winner Courtney Chapman, who won in 17:25.4, and fifth-place finisher Katie Sischo, who ran down a Shenendehowa runner in the last 50 yards to complete the improbable sweep.
North Rockland's Nick Hughes established the course record of 15:26.3 while Cornwall's Aisling Cuffe set the standard for girls in 17:00.1.
It was an emotional day for Champagne.
"Before the race, I was crying. I couldn't believe it was my last (area cross-country) race," admitted the brother of three-time state champ Mary Kate Champagne.
Michael Champagne's high-school career is far from over, however. He will be running in the Federation meet next weekend in Wappingers Falls and then there is indoor and outdoor track & field.
dedicates race
"The competition means a lot to me, running with and against so many good friends I've made over the years," Champagne continued.
"I dedicated this race to Brenda Simoniak from the Buffalo area. She should have been running here, but couldn't make it because of the flu."
Even though Champagne was the defending Class D champion, he entered Saturday's race ranked No. 2 behind Cooperstown's Caleb Edmonds, a home-schooled senior who had put up some impressive numbers this fall.
"I could tell he (Edmonds) he was a good runner and I was a little nervous," Champagne said. "I passed him without about 800 yards to go and then the adrenalin just kicked in."
Champagne and Edmonds both took a tumble on the last turn before entering the finish area. Edmonds slid into the fence and lost three places. He wound up sixth in 16:10.9.
Rabideau not satisfied
Rabideau, who took up running only two years ago to get ready for summer soccer, was disappointed with her 10th-place finish, but then she tends to be hard on herself.
"I was not at all satisfied, but I'm never satisfied," she said.
"I really wanted to have a breakthrough race today — finish in the top five — but I skidded through the half mile. I still thought I ran a really good first mile."
Rabideau, who was unbeaten this fall and never tested, improved dramatically over last year when she came in 31st as a sophomore.
The fast pace of the race stood out in Rabideau's mind.
"I thought it was a sprint the whole time," she said.
B'town's big surprise
Courneene and Shearer gave Beekmantown its best finish ever and capped an amazing run for the Eagles the past two years. As a team, they had to be pleasantly surprised.
"I thought our team did great today," Shearer said, right after the race. "We were going for eighth, but I wouldn't be surprised if we finished seventh."
They came in fifth with 122 points, just 10 out of fourth.
"It was awesome running at home. The difference in energy here was something else," Shearer added. "Before, in big meets, it would be just another race, but having our fans here helped us finish strong.
"I was seeded 26th, but I was energized by the excitement of being home. I'd catch one runner then go for the next."
No showdown
Cross-country aficionados were eagerly anticipating the Class A showdown between Emily Lipari of Roslyn and Cornwall's Aisling Cuffe, two of the premier runners in the nation. However, a leg injury kept Lipari at home and Cuffe cruised to a 43-second victory over the Winslow twins of Queensbury.
"I was really looking forward to racing her (Lipari) here, but I hope she's all right and can be at Footlocker (regionals in three weeks)," the effervescent Cuffe said.
"But it's so nice to be able to say I'm champion of something, of the state. I've always been second or third."
Cuffe, who set the girls' course record in September, easily broke her mark Saturday with a time of 17:00.1.
"My goal was to break 17 minutes. My coach called out 15:50 with about 400 yards to go and I said 'I can't do it.'
"But when I saw the timer, I started sprinting and even tried diving at the line."
The steady rain made the footing especially tricky by the time Cuffe and the rest of the Class C girls set out at 1:15 p.m. in the 10th and final race of the day.
"I was watching the races before mine and I took every corner wide," she related. "It was soft on the turns. But we all ran under the same conditions."
