Auburn Harrier

Auburn, N.Y. – The Eagles continue to soar, especially after they heard the public address system announce that J-E had scored the low total in the Boys C/D race at the Auburn Kwanis Invitational Saturday defeating Weedsport for the championship.  “I am so psyched” said an excited Jeff Donohue, “we won Weedsport when I was a freshman, but I wasn’t a scorer then”.

     Donohue, the Jordan-Elbridge senior co-captain had something to prove Saturday, and he went about his task with a purpose on his face.  “I wanted to win this race so badly, and I really thought I was going to do it too” said Donohue.  “I got out strong, but didn’t go to the lead until about the mile mark.”  Donohue held the lead for another mile and a half until getting caught by Moravia’s Jason Phillips on the upside of the last hill.  “I didn’t respond in time”.  Phillips won the race in a time of 17.16, Donohue was ten seconds back at 17.26.  “Outstanding, simply outstanding is all I can say about Jeff’s race said Coach Roman, “I am very impressed with Jeff and I’m making reservations for the state meet this afternoon”.

      J-E’s ‘super-sophomores’ were next for J-E  in the heat-affected race.  Cody Stanton and Mike Marrero finished in 5^th and 7^th places respectively (17.40 and 17.55) putting J-E way out front in the team scoring.  “We placed three runners out of the top 7 in this race” said Coach Roman, they really are running at top speed, aren’t they”?  “How many teams put 3 of the top 7 in an invitational” Roman quizzed rhetorically. 

     The drama wasn’t done until senior Donato Direnzo (18.57/24th) and freshman Tom Poppe (18.58/25th) crossed the finish line one place behind Weedsport’s fifth man.  “It was pretty close with Weedsport’s tight pack” chimed in Roman, they weren’t as fast, but they were bunched together so closely that I thought they were going to get us”.

Direnzo had  a vicious kick to pass Poppe who had passed the J-E co-captain a few meters earlier.  Poppe continues to improve and run closer to the lead pack which is music to the ears of Coach Roman.  Direnzo still is puzzled by his lack of race success and hope to find it soon.

     Freshman Greg Bader was next for J-E in 27^th place (19.15), ahead of senior Jake Griffin who struggled with the heat and finished 45^th (20.32).

     The league title is on the line as J-E must run on the road against Class B powers Westhill and Bishop Ludden-Grimes.  Both are ranked in the top 10 of the NY State Coaches Poll.  Westhill is the four-time league champs as well and hosts the meet on Wednesday.  If J-E is to overcome these formidable opponents, they will have to run even better, especially their 4^th and 5^th scorers.  “We match up with these two squads pretty well” said Roman, but where we fall back is our last two scorers”.  “It’s a lot to ask of a freshman but I think my seniors will step it up, at least I hope this will  happen”.

J-E’s Junior Varsity Squad finished 7^th with 189 points in the combined class race led by junior George Brauchle’s  21^st place finish.  Brauchle got out hard and held his pace for the entire race and was quite pleased that his time beat one of the varsity seven’s time.  Next for J-E was Zac Darling (30^th place/21.31), followed by Kyle Alpha (41^st/22.10), Dylan Kirk (47^th/22.34), Matt Sullivan (50^th/22.47), Carlin Coomey (53^rd/23.25) and Brendan Hogan (61^st/24.16).  There were 139 runners in the junior varsity race.

     Race time Wednesday is 4:00 p.m. at Santaro Park in Syracuse.