Staten Island’s best joined the thousands from over 250 teams from across the nation for the 47th running of the Manhattan College XC Invitational Saturday at Van Cortlandt Park.
Whereas the Notre Dame girls enjoyed several years in the Eastern States’ Championship race, it was Monsignor Farrell’s first call to the main event since 2012, and the Lions more than proved they belonged with a surprise ninth-place finish.
Chris Paxis reclaimed his spot atop the Lions’ pecking order, besting teammate Anthony Bentivegna for the first time this season, finishing in an Island-best 26th-place, 13-minute, 10.7-second personal best performance over the famed 4,000-meter course.
“We’ve been putting in the work all year and it’s nice to do well at a big race like this,” said Paxis. “It shows we really belong out there with the top guys in the country.”
Although Bentivegna finished behind Paxis, it was hardly disappointing as he also finished with a personal-best time of 13:13.1.
“I used to be very tense in big races,” said Bentivegna. “This year I’ve been able to stay more relaxed and it’s been paying off.”
Farrell’s five-man average of 13:38.38 was easily its best of the season and perhaps nobody was more integral to that than fourth scorer Michael Ryan, who ran a near 50-second personal best 14:01.4 for 91st.
Susan Wagner top dog Daniel Wronski was the next Island finisher, taking 36th in 13:19.0, pushing the Falcons to a 13:47.0 average. Sophomore Keith Connelly’s 13:40.2 personal best also played a large part.
Allentown’s Liam Murphy was the boys’ overall winner, clocking in at 12:15.2.
On the girls’ side, 10th-seeded Notre Dame was able to hold court despite an off-day from Sierra Dinneen, who finished as the top Island girl in a 27th-place 15:37.1, but was nearly 30 seconds slower than her 15:08.4 in last year’s Varsity A race.
“We’re training through this meet so it’s not the worst thing, but I would have liked to run better,” mentioned Dinneen. “It’s a little frustrating but I’m keeping it in perspective. I’m still running well.”
“I try not to base our success on times or place,” added NDA coach Al Garcia. “I talk strategy. If we hit our marks at all the different points of the races, the times will follow.”
Notre Dame’s 16:15.96-average was their best of the season.
Sophomore Alyssia Brown finished right behind Dinneen, taking 28th in 15:38.5. Sierra’s younger sister Lola made her first splash on the varsity level, locking down the Island’s third best time of 16:05.5.
Susan Wagner chose to rest Mayor’s Cup-champion Katie Altieri, but freshman call-up Kristin Aguilera filled in admirably, finishing as the Island’s top non-Gator with a time of 16:42.3, good for 30th in the Varsity E race.
Katelyn Tuohy, the acclaimed North Rockland senior, took the girls’ individual championship in 13:33.2 but it was closer than expected as three girls dipped under 14-minutes for the first time in meet history.