Bethlehem just snatched the Class A girls’ cross country title by a razor-thin three points over Guilderland at Queensbury High School on Saturday, securing their berth to the state title competition in a meet that had everyone on the edge of their seats. When those final team scores started to post, you could feel the tension building, especially with top-ranked teams like Bethlehem, Guilderland, Saratoga Springs, and Shenendehowa all battling it out for that single state spot. It’s harsh, but state rankings don’t mean a thing here, only the win gets you through!
Eagles’ Depth Delivers in Class A Nail-Biter
The 2024 state champions, Bethlehem, proved they’re still championship material, leveraging three top-10 finishes to secure that tight three-point victory. Sophomore Sophia Chromczak, who was a key player in that 2024 state title run, led the charge for Bethlehem, grabbing second place with a time of 18:24.3. She was right behind Shenendehowa’s dominant Riley Lynch, who took the individual crown. But it wasn’t just Chromczak carrying the team, not even close. Her teammates Anna Chrapowitzky finished strong in fourth, Tess McNamara snagged eighth, Sophie Syed was eleventh, and Tiffany Akpieyi sealed the deal, clinching the win with her crucial 23rd place finish. Talk about a full team effort!
“The team changes every single year but everyone is great,” Chromczak said, highlighting how the older runners help the younger ones navigate tough courses and give advice. You gotta love that team chemistry!
Lynch Dominates, Mud Flies in Queensbury
While Bethlehem took the team title, Shenendehowa’s Riley Lynch absolutely flew out of the gate, setting a blistering pace and never looking back to claim the individual Class A championship with an 18:06.5 finish. She cleared serious space between herself and the field, cruising into the chute. “I was super excited to see what I could do today and what my team could do,” Lynch said after her win. “I felt like I was in control. At the mile, I was leading, I was scared near the finish, to be honest, because it was slippery.” Slippery conditions are no joke out there, especially when everything is on the line!
Shenendehowa also got big boosts from Edith Schanz in third and freshman Katie Perkins in tenth. Not to be outdone, Guilderland made it a true battle for the top spot, thanks to Tara Iyer finishing sixth, Teagan Davis seventh, and Braelyn Cornell ninth. These races were intense! And let’s not forget the weather, with early morning showers giving way to afternoon clouds, but then heavy rain returned for the later Class B race, making those conditions wet and muddy for sure. It really separated the contenders from everyone else.
Burnt Hills Powers Through Mud, Joyce Repeats
Speaking of tough conditions, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake absolutely crushed it in the Class B race, proving their grit in the wet and muddy course. Sophomore Serafina Battuello powered through to win the individual Class B title with a time of 19:05.6, a full 15 seconds ahead of defending champ Kiera MacIntosh. And while only the top five count for team scores, Burnt Hills flexed their depth with six runners in the top 10, including Everleigh Greer, Ella Bodenstab, Adalyn Greer, Cecelia Malizia, and Lily Cartier. That’s serious firepower!…