Roadie: 2013 NCAA Division III X-C Atlantic Regionals

The Mens' race started promptly at 12:30. (11/16/13)

Yesterday morning, my wife and I drove out to Mount Morris, New York, to watch the Oneonta State Red Dragons, among many others, run in the 2013 NCAA Division III Atlantic Region Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships are at Letchworth State Park. The weather could not have been more pleasant and the conditions better for a mid-November cross-country race. Hosted by nearby SUNY Geneseo, the course was well laid out and as an added bonus for the many spectators, there were quite a few sight lines from which to view the races from a variety of locations along both the 6 and 8k race routes.

It was an historic day for both SUNY Oneonta teams as each posted their best team finishes in school history. Led by senior, Danielle Kennedy (Stony Point/Albertus Magnus), the SUNY Oneonta women's cross country team took fifth place overall. The fifth place team finish puts the team in strong contention for an at-large berth for the NCAA championships next Saturday in Hanover, IN.

A suitably simple tribute to our nation prior to the day's races. (11/16/13)

Once again, watching both teams reminded me of how important individual effort toward a group goal is necessary to succeed at any level. Despite the misconception that cross-country is an "individuals sport," the Oneonta teams have continued to demonstrate the power of group effort--while watching the race play out one might never pick Oneonta to be near the top. But is seems that after each race concludes, with each young woman or man pushing themselves, at the end of the run--when the totals are tallied--the Red Dragons find themselves rising to the occasion.

As the athletes are lined up on the start line, family and friends await the gun. (11/16/13)

Coach Angelo gives the Women's team some parting advice before the race. (11/16/13)

The Women's team on its way to a school-best ever team finish! (11/16/13)

The Men's Red Dragons finished seventh overall as a team; two spots better than its ninth place finish in 2009, its previous best finish at the championships. Leading Oneonta today with a 39th place finish was junior Charles Remillard (Peru/Peru), who crossed the line in a time of 26:05 for the 8K event. Freshman David Busby (New Paltz/New Paltz) was Oneonta's fourth finisher today in 60th place with a time 26:22.

The calm just before the storm of foot-strikes and arm-swings! (11/16/13)

A school-best finish and a tremendous tribute to hard effort and team work! (11/16/13)

Source:
SUNY Oneonta Athletics

Roadie: 2013 X-C SUNYAC Championships

Today's Men's and Women's 2013 SUNYAC Championships were held on Oneonta State's home course at beautiful Fortin Park. This was my third trip there this season, and though the last race here did not go so smoothly him, I was glad to have been there today for what was by far my son Jack's best race thus far this year.

Only a freshman, I was proud that he had earned a spot on the team today, and the hard work of he and his teammates was rewarded with some solid times. Though their team goal of winning the whole thing (don't you compete to win?) did not materialize, given the challenges they've faced this season, the boys (men?) did well to place fourth overall, with Fredonia just slipping by them into third.

The lighting in the pictures posted here tell the story of the day's changeable weather. Cooler than expected during the girls race at 11:00 a.m., by the time the boys race went off at noon sharp, the weather began to deteriorate with drizzle steadily picking up just as the temperatures began to drop. The announcer called it correctly, telling the spectators that "This is cross-country weather!" Fortunately, the snow that some feared would make an early season appearance this afternoon stayed away. True to form, the sun did make an appearance... about twenty minutes after the race had been completed.

Roadie: 2013 Airfield X-C Invitational

(10/12/13)

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to my third Oneonta Cross-Country competition of the season, the Airfield Invitational back at Fortin Park. As has been the case all season, the ladies got the festivities off with strong performances. Led by senior Danielle Kennedy, the Oneonta Women's team remained undefeated on their home course this fall.

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The 2013 Airfield Invitational represented the second time Oneonta had run against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in an invitational this fall. Unlike the pre-season invitational in Saratoga Springs, New York, RPI got the better of them by capturing the top five positions to earn a perfect score of 15. Oneonta junior Charles Remillard placed sixth to lead the SUNY Oneonta men's cross country team to a  second place team finish.

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