Tuohy sets sights on NXN; F-M books return trip

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

WAPPINGER'S FALLS, N.Y. -- For as far back as she can remember, North Rockland NY sophomore Katelyn Tuohy has looked up to Jordan Hasay. So it was a poignant moment Saturday when Tuohy, with her blond ponytail and steely manner, sidled up to her idol for a question-and-answer session following her dominating win at the NXR New York regional.

"I've always looked up to her," Tuohy said. "She's one of the prestigious runners with the Oregon Project.

"It meant a lot to me for her to come up to me and congratulate me. It's definitely something I'll never forget."

Tuohy cruised through a 5:13 opening mile before pulling away from freshman Brooke Rauber (Tully) and Manlius XC (Fayettville-Manlius) sophomore Claire Walters in the second mile for a controlled 17:01 win. She won by 62 seconds.

"The plan was to go out conservatively," Tuohy said. "I wanted to let the competition know that it was my race."

In a trail-blazing season including numerous course records, Tuohy's objective has remained the same.

"My goal is definitely to win (at NXN) and to race fast," Tuohy said. "Depending on the conditions, I'd like to take a crack at the course record."

Rauber finished second (18:03.9) and Walters third (18:17.3).

Manlius took places three, four, five and six, with Walters, Sophie Ryan, Phoebe White and Rebecca Walters nailing down the team title with 23 points. The program has qualified every year since 2006, for a record-tying 12 appearances (tied with Saratoga Springs).

Liverpool earned its first appearance with its second-place finish with 84 points.

"It's nice because the guys (at Liverpool) have always been the team that's done it," said sophomore Jenna Schulz, who finished seventh overall in 18:40.6.

Kinetic (Saratoga Springs) finished third, securing an at-large bid with 136 points.

Other qualifiers included senior Hannah Reale of Legacy (Shenendehowa), who was eighth in 18:47.7, Suffern sophomore Mary Hennelly (10th, 19:01.4) and freshman Sydney Nowicki of Lockport, who finished 11th in 19:08.1.

While its girls were heavily favored, Manlius' boys were certain to face stiff competition. Yet with junior Garrett Brennan spearheading the effort (first, 15:54.3), Manlius claimed the boys championship as well, with 50 points.

It is Manlius boys' 12th appearance overall and 11th in a row.

Corning earned its first NXN appearance with 98 points, keyed by senior Quinn Nicholson (fifth overall, 16:06.0), who came back from a stress fracture in his shin.

"He's just run very solid for us," Corning coach Ray Lawson said. "We've been very conservative bringing him back (from the injury)."

Deluge XC (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) finished third with 133 points, led by Tyler Berg's second-place finish.

"We've been to NXN before as a team," Berg said. "I'm glad I'll be able to represent a program with so much history."

Other individuals included Maine-Endwell junior Parker Stokes (third, 16:03.6), Finger Lakes XC (Ithaca) senior Silas Derfel (fourth, 16:04.4), Racing City XC (Saratoga Springs) junior Shea Weilbaker (sixth, 16:08.0), and Aurora Runners (East Aurora) senior Ian Russ (eighth, 16:08.9).

"I kind of fell asleep between mile one and mile two," said Derfel, who will run for Syracuse next year. "But I did enough to make it through."