East Girls, North's Eberhardt Earn State Federation Invite

Four Sachem athletes traveled to Verona-Vernon-Sherill High School on Saturday to represent Sachem at the New York State Public High School Cross Country Championships.

With a persistent mix of rain and snow falling for most of the 36 hours prior to the meet, the course was transformed from a firm and fast speed course to a sloppy, muddy mess that drastically affected all the races.

In the Boys Class "A" Race Colin Eberhardt of Sachem North ran an evenly paced effort and despite numerous slips managed a 46th place finish in a time of 18:04. Eberhardt earned a bid to run at the New York State Federation Cross County Championship meet next week.

“The course was extremely muddy and challenging,” Sachem North boys coach William Holl said. “Colin handled the conditions perfectly and ran an outstanding race.”

Ryan Scarpelli of Sachem East had a much more difficult time with the conditions, slipping and sliding and taking two hard falls while fighting his way to the finish 86th in 18:49.

Sachem East was also represented in the Class "A" Girls Race as senior Rachel Paul and sophomore Shannon O'Hehir both qualified for the meet even though the East girls team was edged by a strong Ward Melville squad at the Section XI championship meet last week.

In her first state meet O’Hehir persevered through the conditions to place 47th in 21:27. Paul, whose powerful running style was hampered by the soft conditions, still managed to podium with a 9th place finish in 20:03.

At the conclusion of the awards ceremony the New York State Federation committee met to decide the 17 Public High Schools that will compete in the State Federation Cross Country Championships this coming Saturday. The Sachem East girls team, along with Suffolk rivals Northport and Ward Melville, was selected to compete in the 27 team field that also includes the top Private, Catholic, and PSAL Schools in New York State. The race will be held at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls next weekend.