The Colonie girls’ cross country squad, absolutely brimming with fresh faces and raw talent, just stormed to the Division 2 team championship at the 86th Grout Invitational. This isn’t just any win, either. This is their program’s incredible 14th team title at the event, proving that even with a serious youth movement and plenty of inexperience, these Wolfpack runners are already championship material.
Colonie’s Youth Movement Is Taking Over
This win is all about the future, right now. Freshman Madelyn Fowles, running the Grout Invitational for the very first time, absolutely crushed it. She snagged first place in the girls’ Division II race with a blistering 16:51.7 on the 2.75-mile course. Imagine stepping onto that stage for the first time and just dominating! She wasn’t alone either. Eighth-grader Layaal Awad finished right behind her, taking second, and sophomore Nina Kimball locked in a crucial sixth-place finish. That’s a top-tier performance from a squad that Coach MaryAnn Reilly-Johnson confirmed has “12 brand new girls who have never run cross country before and 16 returning.” Reilly-Johnson is buzzing, saying “All the girls love running this course. We have a nice little crew coming along.” Fowles herself was already eyeing the competition, admitting “I liked it (the course). I was trying to catch up to them or stay close to them” as Washingtonville juniors Camryn and Avery Flynn set a scorching 16:31.5 pace in the merged race.
The Boys Laid Down Some Seriously Fast Times, Too
The Grout Invitational wasn’t just about the girls’ triumph. The boys brought some serious heat to the course as well. Schenectady junior Cainen Aceto was locked in a brutal duel in the boys’ Division 2 race, fighting for the lead from the gun. He finished second with a 14:22.0, hitting his goal of getting under 14:40. Aceto loved the race, calling it “one of my favorite races.” He battled White Plains senior Pierce Biffert, who unleashed a “crazy kick” with just 450 meters to go, pulling ahead to win with the top time of the day across all races: a blistering 14:16.5. Aceto gave credit where it was due, saying, “I was leading most of it but first-place (Biffert) passed me, he ran a good race too. That was tough.” White Plains took home the Division 2 team title, with Albany’s Saleem Ismail finishing fifth and La Salle’s Woody Castle in seventh. In the boys’ Division 1 race, CBA senior Declan Lyman pushed hard for second with a 14:40.1, behind North Rockland’s Andrew Maltbie, whose 14:30.4 helped his team secure the championship. Bethlehem finished as runner-up, fueled by Daniel McNabb, John Deer, Elijah Ketzer, and Mason Bergeron all landing in the top 10. And don’t forget Class C: La Salle’s senior Kelsey Mooney won the girls’ title in 17:13.6, with Broadalbin-Perth grabbing the team win. Jaden Lewis of Delhi/South Kortright won the boys’ Class C in 14:20.7, while Madden Richards and Devin Dietz secured second and third for the Patriots, clinching their team crown.
What a day for these young runners! The Colonie girls just proved that even an inexperienced team can absolutely dominate when they’re running together. We’re talking about a squad that’s already making history, and with so many young stars, it’s clear this is just the beginning for them. Keep an eye on these Wolfpack runners, because they’re building something special, and their future looks incredibly bright.
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