2008 Clarence Fall Classic XC Invitational
Akron Falls Park
Saturday, 18-October 2008

RESULTS - Boys | Girls

Course: 5k (3.2mi), grassy, woods, hills, sloppy
Weather: temps in the low 50's, slight breeze, mostly sunny
Fall colors: three weekends in a row with outstanding fall colors, what more could you ask?!

The third gorgeous fall weekend for another large XC invitational and this weekend, Akron Falls Park was the setting. Several Section 5 teams participated in the annual fall classic and they more or less dominated the events.

Hilton (northwest of Rochester, near Brockport) dominated the girls large school race taking the first four places and in the JV race, finishing in the top six spots. They also took the team honors in both races.

In the girls medium school race, Starpoint took the top team honor while Brenna Symoniak (Amherst), Katie Niblock (Sweet Home) and Lauren Scarupa (Starpoint) finihsed in the top three spots.

The girls small school race was won by Roy-Hart's Kelly Heuer. Kelly Calarco of Notre Dame (Batavia) and Sam Stady of Allegany-Limestone rounded out the top three. Allegany-Limestone claimed the team title.

On the boys side, team titles were won by McQuaid-Jesuit (large school and JV), Starpoint (medium), Greece-Odyssey (small school) and Penfield (freshman race) while individual winners were Greg Redfield of Penfield in the large school race, Zach Ahart (Starpoint) in the medium school race, Pembroke's Collin Bartholomew for the small school title, JV top spot went to Mike Crawford of McQuaid-Jesuit and the frosh winner was Alex Eaton of Clarence.

While each one of the races had their drama and entertainment value, the Akron girls and Tonawanda boys found their own ways to keep themselves busy after their races by wrestling and sliding in the mud bog which has become an annual obstacle at this race. Wonder if they still cover the seats in the buses with that cheap vinyl so they can hose it off?

MUSINGS AND OBSERVATIONS
> OK, you'd think with the number of years the start of the race involved the "swamp" at the start, the kids would figure a way to take advantage of the situation and go around it to get better footing and maybe, gain an advantage over those who wallow through it? But nooooo, they head straight into it and roar with pleasure like a 2-yr old making mudpies.

> Funny how many competitiors lost a shoe or in one case, both shoes in the "swamp". A clue for next year, tape your shoes on!

> Give credit to the Clarence XC and Track & Field Boosters with their concession stand...every conceivable baked good, home-made chili of various varieties, and the usual hot dogs, soda and Gatorade. Many parents volunteered their time to man the stand and when I say many, it is an understatement. Kudos!

> Never noticed it before but there were a number of small planes making their way to the Akron Airport by flying over the starting area. Must have been some sort of fly-in or something but you couldn't help but to cast an eye to the sky to make sure one of those things didn't land short.

> I don't care what anyone says, that hill to the lower falls area is killer for middle-aged photo-journalist wannabes with bad knees. Gonna have to get one of those Segways to get around but then again I probably wouldn't have access to the courses like I'd like.

> I like the "trick or treat" handout at the end of the finish chute...some of the competitiors actually finished twice so they could get more candy...not really, but I did see a couple of kids dart away with handfuls towards the end of the race...must have been "Left Over NIght".