Hamilton Harriers Ready to Toe the Line for a New Season
The Hamilton Cross Country team is back for its second season. This year’s team features a mix of veterans and newcomers eager to hit the trails and take on their competition.
On the boys’ side the team is led by captain Allen Thomas, a returning junior. Allen is looking to focus on the 400 and 800 this year, but first he has a squad to lead through the woods. The team’s top spot is up for grabs with two XC rookies looking to make some noise in our league. Tre Bracey, who is already aiming for a spot on the Section 1 spring pentathlon team, is looking for the XC season to sharpen his 1500m skills. Sophomore Joel Kuruvilia is hoping to build on last year’s successful winter and spring track seasons, and if he lives up to expectations he could be running at the State Meet in Plattsburgh this November. The other top seven spots are still wide open with Stephen Samuel(sr.), Joji Jacob(jr.), Anish Thomas (jr.), Bryant Villa (jr.) and John Varkey (soph.) battling to fill out the varsity roster.
Needless to say, whoever misses the varsity squad will be leading a much more potent JV squad than last year. Returning seniors Soe Latt-Naing and Robert Muller are constantly improving and just waiting for a chance to crack into the top seven. The team is rounded out by Brandon Singh (soph.) and freshmen James Tobias and Alexis Xelo whose fresh faces, effort and enthusiasm represent the future of the team.
On the girls’ side the sky is the limit. Our hopes are to capture a Section I title and punch a ticket for the whole girls’ varsity team to Plattsburgh. Junior Captain Sydney Bridges leads the team. Senior rookie Jacey Peers has Coach Aiello shaking his head wondering where she was last fall. A newcomer to the sport, Jacey’s performances last spring predict that she is sure to excel at the difficult 5k distance. The #3 spot for the moment seems to belong to last year’s most improved award winner, junior Dulce Rosas. The only question is: How good can she get? Kathleen Gonzales (jr.), coming off a disappointing spring season battling illnesses, is hoping to rebound this fall on the trails. The #5 spot is open with a whole group of shorter distance runners bravely venturing into a new sport looking to improve their conditioning for the winter and spring track seasons. Sophomores Aiyana Crew, senior Sheena Varghese, junior Alishya Thomas, sophomores Zuleima Mazo and Kazia Garvey are all in the hunt for spots on the varsity top seven.
Section 1’s leagues have been re-arranged for the 2009 season so the Hamilton Harriers will be running against Valhalla, Blind Brook and Keio Academy in their league meet. Not intimidated at all, the team is looking forward to the new competition. The season kicks off Tuesday, September 15 against Briarcliff H.S. This is the place to come to check on our results.
