By Jordan J. Michael

SARATOGA STATE PARK –– Cross-country runners from Voorheesville, Guilderland, and Berne-Knox-Westerlo had to deal with cold, wet weather and a muddy course at the Section II Championships.

Lady Dutch Head Coach Dave Kosier thought his team, which finished third behind powerhouse Saratoga and Shenendehowa in Class AA, would be 20 to 25 seconds faster at Friday’s event at Saratoga State Park.

“Some girls thought they ran bad, but it wasn’t them,” Kosier said. “The muddy course made things slower than normal. There are puddles and soft ground.”

Freshman Jenna Robinson finished 11^th with a time of 18:31 and she’ll be the first girl from Guilderland to attend States since 2004. Senior Erin Mossop had a time of 19:04 for 23^rd place.

The state competition will be held this Saturday at Pawling High School.

The Voorheesville girls (104 points) edged out BKW (126) for second place in Class C. Lady Bulldog Courtney Tedeschi, who placed third with 18:32, and Lady Bird Michelyn Little, who had a time of 19:09 for ninth, will both attend States. For Tedeschi, it’s her third time.

“The team supports me,” Tedeschi said. “I’ve learned to pace myself after going too hard at the start.”

“We’re very aware when we run,” said Casey Morrison of Voorheesville.

“They ran at a fantastic pace,” said Voorheesville coach Phil Carducci.

“These kids train as much as they can,” said BKW Head Coach Bill Tindale. “They build up miles for 12 months. Slowly, they add harder and faster elements.”

Junior Derek Struck helped the BKW boys’ team finish second overall in Class C with 76 points after cruising by Fonda’s Zak Godfrey on the final stretch for second place with a time of 16:10. “It was very slippery out there,” said Struck, who will attend States. “Every turn had mud.”

The Dutchmen had an overall score of 136 in Class AA for fourth place and Andrew Coy was top finisher for the team with a time of 15:51. “I think we did as well as we could,” Head Coach Jason Burlingame said. “The Suburban Council might be the deepest league around.”

Seniors Coy, Sean Doyle, Justin Donohue, Andrew Klug, and Keon Wan Park will all graduate in June, leaving Burlingame with spots to fill next year.

“It feels a little weird,” Burlingame said. “I started coaching with these kids.”

After years at the top, the Voorheesville boys’ team finished fifth with 163 overall points. Sophomore Joe Becker, placed sixth with a time of 16:21, good enough for States. He was the only team member in the top 30.

“I’m happy we got through the season despite not having any senior guidance,” Carducci said. “The day kept getting colder. These kids can’t stretch forever.”