VOORHEESVILLE — The Voorheesville cross-country teams defended their home turf on Saturday.

The boys’ and girls’ teams each beat their competition at the Blackbird Invitational on Saturday at Swift Road Town Park in New Scotland.
"This is the first year we won the meet, which is nice," said Voorheesville Head Coach Kelly McHale. "Everything went really well, even with the rain. It wasn’t bad. It was better than pouring like they said it would be."

The rain had subsided but gray clouds lingered, which kept temperatures cool for the runners on Saturday morning.

And despite the weather forecasts, more teams than in years past showed up to compete.
"We had 19 teams signed up," McHale said. "I think the most we had was 17 in the past. That is very good. People like the course."

The course has provided some good competition over the past few years.
"I think in the three years I’ve done this and changed the course," McHale said, "this is the fastest times on the course. Mackey ran a 16:29."

Voorheesville’s own Mackey Lloyd was the first runner to cross the finish line. The second-place runner, Jonathan Aziz of Bishop Gibbons, finished in 17:14.

The next Voorheesville finisher was Conor Cashin. He finished fifth in 17:35.

Nathan Bub finished seventh for the Blackbirds and Ian Powell was eighth. Tommy Pasquali was 14th and Taylor Treadgold rounded out the Voorheesville scoring with a 15th-place finish. Tucker Bourque was 29th, but only the top five scores count in invitational meets.

The Voorheesville team finished with 35 points as a team, easily topping the standings. Albany High School was second with 90 points.

Girls win, too

Hilary Edmunds was the top finisher for the Voorheesville girls’ team. She finished third in a time of 20:20.

Hoosic Valley’s Emma D’Ambro won the race in 19:43.

Grace Giampaglia was the next Voorheesville finisher, coming in fifth with a time of 20:47. Michelyn Little followed with a sixth-place finish. Zoe Edmunds came in 10th, Chantal Little was 12th, Casey Morrison was 18th, and Sarah Madden was 41st.

The top five finishers’ scores easily led Voorheesville to the team title with 36 points. Duanesburg was second with 83 points.
"Even though there was a big difference in points," McHale said, "the girls’ team was challenged. The two Hoosic Valley girls were impressive."

Hoosic Valley’s Molly Stevens came in second.
"Lots of experience"

The Blackbird teams’ look to be strong in the small-school divisions this fall. They will also compete for a Colonial Council championship.
"We only graduated two from the varsity teams," McHale said. "We have lots of experience. The girls’ team does have three eighth-graders. A lot of the new kids are coming in with experience and are competitive."

The boys’ team is also strong in those two categories.
"The guys team is all veterans," McHale said. "The entire team has been running together since the seventh-grade. They have a lot of experience. They know what they are doing."

The team does have a couple of injuries that could hurt the team.

Senior Ryan Allison is out and could be for a long time with an injury.
"We’re not sure when he’s coming back," McHale said. "He’s a senior and we feel bad for him. He’s a big contributor and he would make a big difference."

McHale does not have as many runners to work with as in the past couple of years.
"This is a good group," McHale said. "They want to be here and they are motivated. With the success we have had in the previous years, they are motivated to be successful."

Last year, the boys’ team qualified for the state meet by winning the Class C title. All of the runners from that team are back this year.
"For the guys’ team, it’s hard not to be motivated," McHale said. "They know what they want."

The boys’ team wants to continue the success from last season and have a better showing at the state meet. The Voorheesville teams will be running at the state-meet site in Norwood this Saturday. The girls’ team can also compete for a spot at the state meet.
"They elected captains," McHale said of the boys’ team. "Ryan, Mackey, and Tommy Pasquali, who is a workhorse. And we have a lot of depth on the girls’ team. We acquired one 11th-grader that shows promise."

Kate Reynolds is that junior. She has been running on the junior varsity for the first couple of meets, but could become a big contributor in the future.
"She’ll be good," McHale said. "She just has to learn how to run a cross-country race."

Morrison and Madden are two of the eighth-graders and are new to varsity races. Michelyn Little ran in the big meets last year.
"She has improved a lot," McHale said. "She was on the team last year. Those three fit in well with Hilary, Chantel, Zoe, and Grace."

Any of those runners can finish in the slots behind Hilary Edmunds.
"Two through five have switched places," McHale said. "It’s a nice competition between the girls. They motivate each other."

Besides the meet in Norwood, the Blackbirds have big meets such as the Queensbury and Manhattan invitationals on their schedule.
"We will be competitive," McHale said. "The state meet is the main focus for the boys. Greenwich will be tough for the girls. But I would like to get three or four girls a spot in states, if not the team. I would like to get them in there."

And McHale said she has the athletes who can make that a reality.
"This group is very hard-working," she said. "They really want it. They look forward to the competitive part of the season."