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2015 Manhattan XC - F-M returns to Eastern States racesPublished by
Reigning champs set for test at Manhattan
By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor
Coach Bill Aris likes for his runners at Fayetteville-Manlius to pause and think every so often, so he asked them a question recently: What do you hope to get out of this season?
For senior Kaitlyn Neal, who transferred in for one year after her family moved from Skaneateles, the answer was simple and emphatic.
"I want to be considered a Stotan."
Neal, a strong runner at her previous school, has made a seamless transition into the program that is the reigning NXN champion for both boys and girls cross country. That "stotan" way of life (a play on the words stoic and spartan) has become F-M's brand during an unprecedented decade of national success and to be indentified with it is a badge of honor.
"I would say she is fitting in quite well," Aris said of Neal. "Her make up is ideal for our team. The kids all love her and she loves them. It's as if she's been with us for four years and yet she's only been with us since the start of July."
Neal was F-M's top finisher at both Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and Baldwinville in September and is part of the reason why team is ranked No. 2 in the country.
As F-M makes the journey to Van Cortlandt Park for this Saturday's Manhattan Invitational, the Hornets are ready to see how well they can compete in one of the biggest meets in the country. The Eastern States Championship races are set for 2:10 p.m. EDT (boys) and 2:57 p.m. (girls). ENTRIES
Last year, F-M steamrolled Manhattan. The girls put four in the top 11; the boys four in the top 19. Two months later, both won squads won NXN titles.
This year is different. The boys aren't as deep as the 2014 squad was and Aris said he contemplated whether to enter them in a different race before ultimately choosing the Eastern States championship.
Pete Ryan will lead F-M back to VCP a year after setting the meet record for the best overall team performance (avg. time).
"We're doing the best we can and trying to keep everybody healthy," Aris said. "Hopefully we'll run well."
The F-M girls have won six of the last eight Eastern States titles.
"(Neal) has adapted well and there are a few others right behind her," Aris said. "The girls look better than (they did in August)."
F-M skipped McQuaid last weekend because Aris didn't feel it was smart for his teams to go hard twice in eight days. Manhattan will do much to reveal the punching power of this year's teams.
"The meets so far this season have been set up to go little by little and progress through them," Aris said. "Now we're ready for Manhattan and then we'll go back to work for the championship part of the season." More news |