Corning Painted-Post Looks Toward Repeat State Championship Possibilities in New York

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Boys NXR New York Preview

Corning-Painted Post, after winning the New York Class A cross country title last year, tried to make the best of a fractured post-season in 2021. 

Without a Nike Cross Nationals waiting at the end, the team's top two runners went to the Eastbay Northeast regional qualifier at Van Cortlandt Park the same day the NXR New York regional rolled through Bowdoin Park. 

This fall, CCP remains the consensus pick as the top team in New York state. National qualifier Jack Gregorski has graduated but Ashton Bange returns to a lineup that appears to be the most complete in the state. Three of the team's top five, five of the top seven, return from a squad that scored 30 points to win the state title. 

The next line of contenders soon gets murky without any early season meet results to evaluate. 

Fayetteville-Manlius, under the direction of the legendary Bill Aris, brings back its top two runners but there is a shortage of manpower. Aris said this week he only has 10 boys on the team. Matching last year's runner-up finish at the state meet could prove to be a tall order without a lot of in-season development. 

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, the Class B champion, returns Matthew Rounds, the NXR New York winner, and has a group of promising younger runners coming up in a reliably consistent program. 

1. Corning-Painted Post. The best team in New York in 2021 has the inside track heading into 2022. Senior Ashton Bange gives the team a talented veteran at the front of the pack and six of the team's top eight runners are back. Tevin McLaren, Marcus Homa, DJ Cornfield, Gabe Cornfield and Joshua Beres should keep the Hawks at the top of the regional rankings throughout the fall as they work toward a repeat New York Class A title. 

2. Fayetteville-Manlius. A shortage of runners has forced an adjustment to the usual robust summer training for the Hornets. Injury prevention is paramount for a small team that hopes to make an impact at the end of the season, and returners Anthony Otis, Nolan McGinn, Benjamin Perry and Cooper Dereszynski are four returning runners that give Aris something to build upon. 

3. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. Matthew Rounds is one of the top runners in the state and leads a young team that brings back its 5-9 runners from 2021. Matt Windecker, Keller Casey, Silas Marvin, Ben Smith and Cayden Robleno are next up for a program that has an NXN pedigree and an eye on returning this December.  

4. St. Anthony's. The Friars are the CHSAA team with the most talent coming back. St. Anthony's took third last year at the CHSAA Intersectional Championship behind Fordham Prep and Xavier, but Jeremy Paredes is the top returner and Jack Morelli is the top returning junior from the meet. Sean Dearie, Hunter Wilson and Regan McPherson are all back from last year's varsity top seven. 

5. Fairport. Jake Passalugo and Zach Ditzel are the key returners for the Titans, who finished four points behind Webster Thomas in the Section 5 Championships last year. A bit more depth could take them to the top of the section, but there are a bunch of teams that could unseat them in the top five during the course of the season. 

WATCHLIST 

Webster Thomas

Sanford H. Calhoun

Monroe-Woodbury

Xavier 

Saratoga Springs

Shenendehowa Central