Area teams take first 4 spots at Federation cross country race

By SEAN MARTIN, Special to the Times Union

WAPPINGERS FALLS — In the end, the girls' New York State Federation cross country championships should have been more aptly named the Section II Invitational.

With a field of 27 teams and 259 runners at Bowdoin Park on Saturday, Burnt Hills used a deep and talented roster to capture the Federation championship Saturday in a race that saw Section II teams take the top four spots in the team standings.

Seven days after capturing its third straight Class A State Meet title, Burnt Hills' score of 69 points was good enough to edge Saratoga Springs, Queensbury, and Shenendehowa for the team championship over the 3.1-mile course.

Greenwich, out of the Class D ranks, finished ninth.

"Effort is the big word. The kids did everything I asked them to do," Burnt Hills coach Shaun Zepf said. "We really made a big move in the second half of the race. Having four teams from Section II up on top, that's just crazy."

Senior Sam Roecker paced the Spartans' victory with...... READ MORE