Thursday, 08 December 2022 13:05

‘We All Believed In Each Other’: Saratoga Boys’ Cross-Country Caps Off Successful Season

The Saratoga varsity boys’ cross-country team at the Section 2 Championship meet on Nov. 5. From left are coach Tom Reilly, Luke Dacey, Darren Pasek, Mason Talarico, Owen Blaisdell, Jacob Bernd, Ryan Buck, Caleb Yuhasz, Thomas Isenovski, Leydon Hemsworth, Hudson Shaw, Brent Pasek, coach Shane Zanetti (Photo provided by Saratoga head coach Shane Zanetti). The Saratoga varsity boys’ cross-country team at the Section 2 Championship meet on Nov. 5. From left are coach Tom Reilly, Luke Dacey, Darren Pasek, Mason Talarico, Owen Blaisdell, Jacob Bernd, Ryan Buck, Caleb Yuhasz, Thomas Isenovski, Leydon Hemsworth, Hudson Shaw, Brent Pasek, coach Shane Zanetti (Photo provided by Saratoga head coach Shane Zanetti).

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity boys’ cross-country team “stuck through it” throughout the fall, utilizing their depth and a team mindset to cap off a successful season.

The Blue Streaks captured the Section 2 Class A Championship, and placed fifth in the NYSPHSAA Championships, the New York State Federation Championships, and the Nike Cross Regionals. The boys’ cross-country program also swept the Suburban Council Championships for the first time in school history, with the varsity, JV, freshman, and modified teams all claiming victory.

“I think we had some pretty high expectations,” said head coach Shane Zanetti. “We returned a lot of good runners from last year, and we had a really good spring on the track. We weren’t going to put any limits on ourselves. We knew that it was going to be really competitive within Section 2 and in New York, but we also expected to do pretty well.”

Senior runner Leydon Hemsworth said he approached daily practices “with the mindset of going to nationals.”

“I approached the season just trying to go as far as possible,” said Hemsworth. “I think it’s that drive of going as far as possible that got us there.”

“I think that was kind of the goal for the entire team most of the year, and we always stuck through it,” added teammate Mason Talarico. “We really never gave up throughout the process at all.”

Talarico, a senior, capped off his cross-country career with wins at the Burnt Hills Invitational, the Suburban Council Championships, and the Section 2 Championships. He placed fifth at the State Championships and earned a trip to the Nike Cross Nationals after finishing third at the Cross Regionals.

“I didn’t have an amazing race, but coming back now, I just remember that I really wasn’t nervous or pressured,” said Talarico. “Throughout the whole race, I really just enjoyed it.”

And while Talarico shined during his senior year, the Blue Streaks’ overall depth as a team was a large factor in their success. At the Section 2 Championship meet, Saratoga placed six runners in the top 15 finishers, and finished just two points ahead of second-place Shenendehowa.

Talarico finished first overall (15:59.0), with Darren Pasek in ninth place (16:50.7) and Thomas Isenovski placing 11th (16:55.1). Jacob Bernd (17:00.0) was 12th, Luke Dacey (17:08.0) finished 13th, and Hemsworth placed 14th (17:08.7). 

“We came in with confidence, but we were kind of banged up,” Hemsworth said. “We had some sick runners, we had a runner out with an injury, and it was a hot day. But I think it’s what we were talking about earlier with the belief. We all believed in each other, we believed that we could win.”

Zanetti said he spoke to the team about “running to win,” instead of “running not to lose,” in the sectional race.

“We didn’t want to run tight, we wanted to continue to compete the way we had throughout the season,” said Zanetti. “Shen gave a great effort, and it was a really close race, but in the end, the way these guys ran together and ran for each other got us where we wanted to be.”

Zanetti and the runners said the team developed their strong depth during the season.

“When we started racing, and our four and five prospects were beating our two and three, we started to realize, ‘OK, we have a good shot at going pretty far,’” said Pasek, a sophomore.

Hemsworth noted the competitiveness of the squad, saying the runners are constantly trying to best each other during the season.

“It’s so close between all of us, like two through nine can replace each other on any given day,” Hemsworth said. “I just kind of had a saying during the season, ‘Happy, never satisfied.’ I was happy with my races, but I was not satisfied. Because I knew people were coming for me. I think that was a testament to how great our team was.”

“They can replace each other, they can support each other,” said Zanetti of the team’s depth. “One of the things that we’re really trying to work toward and we’re going to continue to try to develop is just this idea of running as a pack. When they did that really well, that’s when we were at our best, for sure.”

The team used their depth to propel themselves to fifth-place finishes in the NYSPHSAA Class A State Championship, the New York Federation Championship, and the Nike Cross Regionals. Zanetti said it was exciting to reach those points and noted that it can help set the underclassmen up for success in future seasons.

“I think it was just a really good experience for the group,” Zanetti said. “For the guys returning next year, it’s going to be really valuable, because it’s at the same location again. They learn from that. I felt like they got more comfortable in that more highly-competitive environment each time around.”

Hemsworth said the atmosphere of those competitions can make runners feel “like you’re almost being eaten up.”

“You have super high adrenaline, and there’s people all around you,” said Hemsworth. “For the people that are coming back next year, hopefully that’ll be a really good experience, learning how to deal with that.”

And the team has high expectations for next season, helped by both a strong group of returning runners and a strong overall program, which was emphasized with a full program sweep of the Suburban Council Championships.

“That was kind of a goal we developed as a program from varsity down as the season progressed,” Zanetti said. “I think it’s a really good testament to the way that we try to run our program, and the way that these guys lead our program. They learn from the older guys, they spend a lot of time with the older guys.”

Talarico said the team makes an effort to reach out and connect with the runners at the program’s other levels, saying it can sometimes be “intimidating” for younger athletes.

“I kind of noticed that the kids don’t really feel that way, it seems like. We’ve become more of friends with them,” said Talarico. “We’re excited for what they’ve achieved, and stuff like that. I enjoyed seeing that. That feels like the right way to have a team.”

“These guys are one of the closest groups we’ve had over the years, and I think it shows in their results, which is really exciting,” Zanetti said. “To achieve success with your friends is great.”

“Going into the season, we were really excited,” said Dacey. “We’re really happy with it.”

Zanetti said the athletes have goals for the indoor and outdoor track seasons, but also said “it’s almost impossible” to not get excited about the next cross-country season.

“That’s another part of that culture that these guys have helped to develop. Sort of the legacy of looking forward to what the next group of people is going to do,” Zanetti said. “Time goes on, and the next set of goals will come up.”

“I think we’re really happy with this year,” added Hemsworth. “It’s a little sad that me and Mason won’t be back next year, but it’s great seeing the team that we run with, that I think of as my own peers, and I’m excited to see what they do next year. Because I think they can go much further than we did this year.”

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