Harrier # 13 - Section III Championships

Visit www.jecrosscountry.com to see photos, race results, and former J-E teams.

October 16, 2010                                                Edition - No. 11
 

The Eagle Harrier
 A Clean Sweep!!

Double Team Victories  

Seniors Bader and Cheney Win

Weedsport, N.Y. - The Eagles were in no mood to take any prisoners.  Still smarting from their loss 

on Wednesday to arch rival Marcellus, the J-E boys cross country squad wanted to wreak havoc on the 

Weedsport Invitational.  Wreak havoc indeed is what J-E did in an incredible domination of the field.  

Here are some of the examples of the J-E dominance:

               -the varsity squad went 1 - 2 - 3 for the first time ever at a varsity invitational

               -the junior varsity squad did nearly as well by going 1 - 3 - 4.

               -J-E's top three varsity and top three junior varsity runners took six of the top 7 in their 

 respective races

               -Seniors Greg Bader and Derrick Cheney were the fastest runners in their races; Bader 

 was the 2nd fastest runner on the day.

               -the varsity team took first place with a school record score of 27 points

               -Jack Gugel was the 3rd fastest runner on the day and the fastest freshman by nearly a minute

     The Eagles took some names and kicked some rears and it all showed clearly on the faces of the 

runners.  How joyous and proud it should feel to be the best at anything, even for a moment.  The Eagles 

have every right to enjoy the feeling.

     Senior Greg Bader won his first ever invitational pushing himself away from his teammates over the last 

mile of the course crossing the Weedsport 5 K line in 16.45.  Bader was excited to compare his win to his 

mentor Jeff Donohue's similar win at Weedsport some three years prior.  "Remember that Jeff got his first 

win in his senior year right here" said Bader.  "Remember Jeff went to state three weeks later" reminded 

Coach Roman, "you'd better have your bags packed".  Running with or near Bader were familiar 

teammates Jack Gugel and Steve Slonosky who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in 16.53.6 and 16.53.9.  

"Do you really think this was 5 K Gugel was heard asking, "no way did it feel like I was running 

5.27 miles".  Slonosky, who was back in 7th place until the infamous Science Hill said: "That was my 

plan, to pass these guys on the hill, you know how I love my hills".  It should be noted that J-E's 

1 - 2 - 3 finish topped the 1998 squad's 1 - 2 - 4 finish at the Baldwinsville Invitational for the best 

finish ever at an invite.  "One-two-three"?!  "Do you know how rare this is except if you are the 

F-M girls" chuckled Coach Roman, "I am very proud but not at all surprised at our performance".  

     Tom Poppe had his best race in a month by finishing in tenth place overall in a great time of 17.56.  

"I was only a minute behind Steve" said a invigorated Poppe, "I'm finally feeling myself again".  

Scott Sullivan returned to being J-E's fifth man by finishing 13th (18.33), just a couple of  strides ahead 

of Alex Suslik (14th - 18.36).  Both Sullivan and Suslik were hurting after the race with sore body parts.  

Sullivan's calves were aching once again and Suslik's feet were throbbing.  Senior Carlin Coomey 

was 21st in 1931.  Coomey was in discomfort from sore hips.

     The junior varsity squad finished first with the low score of 34, topping ESM (57), Auburn (62), 

Westhill (121), Hannibal (122), J-D (142), and Nottingham (186).  Senior Derrick Cheney seized the 

lead with 100 meters from the finish and outkicked Auburn freshman Mike Currier.  Cheney ran 18.37 

for the 5 K and Currier, broken by Cheney's sprint, finished in 18.42.  Rob Patterson was third overall, 

just one second back (18.43) followed Dlyan Whittico in fourth (18.56).  Whittico is beginning to make 

a name for himself with his sudden ascension on the squad.  This was the first time ever that Whittico 

broke 19 minutes for 5K.  Another top ten finish for J-E's Jared Bard put four J-E runners in the top 

ten of the race, a combination that is hard to beat.  Bard ran 19.36 on the hilly and often-times muddy 

Weedsport adventure.  Mike McDonald, returning from oblivion, was J-E's fifth scorer.  

McDonald's 17th place finish (19.58) was one ahead of freshman teammate Nick Parkolap 

(18th - 20.02).  The next few J-E runners were bunched together showing J-E's fantastic depth led 

by 21st place Shawn Phillips (20.05), 23rd place finish for Nick Byrnes (20.14),  

27th - Eian Prinsen (20.29), 33rd - Jay Paquette (21.03), 34th place - Dean Comstock (21.27),  

36th - Jake Patterson (21.32), 37th - Nick Muehlberger (21.40).

Both teams should be very proud of themselves and to know that they've represented the blue and 

white of Jordan-Elbridge as well as anyone ever has.  Congratulations.