Dominating performances week after week earned the Salmon River Boys Varsity Cross Country team a Section 10 Class C Championship title at Sectionals at Norwood-Norfolk. As a team Champion, Salmon River was able to take its top seven runners to the New York State Class C Cross Country championship meet at Chenango Park.

Team Captain Colin Benedict led the Shamrocks at Sectionals, covering the 5K course in a time of 19:16 and a place on the Section 10 All Northern Second Team. Teammate Tyler Shorette posted 19:51 while Ivan King followed with a 20:33. Morgan Phelix closely finished with a 20:49 followed by Carter Benedict (21:16), Talon Phillips (21:26), and Sose George crossed the finish line with a 21:35 to secure a spot on the Championship team traveling to the State meet.

The Class C State Championship meet at Chenango Park ran a field of 131 runners on a 3.1 mile course. Senior Colin Benedict again led the Shamrocks with a time of 19:44. King was next with a 20:20 while George logged 20:36. Phelix ran a 20:47 followed closely by Phillips with a 21:13 and freshman Carter Benedict finished with 22:13.

"The State Championship meet was an overall learning experience for all the runners, especially the younger ones," commented SRCS Coach Danny Mainville. "Colin has been one of the best captains that I've had. He did a great job taking such a young team under his wing and mentoring them."

Colin has been running cross country for six years and this was his second NYS Championship meet. "The top caliber runners from across the state were there," stated Colin, "and it is such a great experience to compete at this level."

Colin hopes to run cross country in college but has not decided on a college at this point. He feels that his running has helped to prepare him for life. "Running physically and mentally pushes you to strive for superiority in running as well as in life. What you put into it is what you get out of it and you don't give up."

The girl's varsity cross country team had two runners qualify for the State Championship meet. Alaina (Ali) Hart and Tiffany Conners led the Lady Shamrocks at the Section 10 Sectionals at Norwood-Norfolk. Ali paced the Shamrocks over the 5K course with a 22:24 while Tiffany ran a 24:33. Other teammates also finished: Camryn Buckshot (25:34), Macy David (26:56), Shannon Ryan (26:58), and Colonie Gray (28:54).

Ali earned a spot on the Section 10 Second Team All Northern and was awarded the prestigious Travis Friedrich Memorial Sportsmanship Award. The award is given in honor of a Gouverneur Cross Country Coach, Dave Friedrich's son, Travis. Travis ran for Gouverneur during his high school tenure, and while he wasn't the fastest, he worked hard and never gave up. Travis was enrolled in the Army Reserve/National Guard and was deployed to Iraq where he was killed.

"Ali received this award by first being nominated by her fellow athletes from Section 10." Those nominations were then voted upon by a panel of coaches and Ali was chosen as this year's female recipient," explained coach Mainville.

This is Ali's second year running cross country and second year running in the NYS Championship meet. "I didn't go to compete for a place, I went for time. I'm still learning how to compete and this year running at the States was less intimidating than last year," commented Ali. "I wasn't really ready for it last year but this year I wanted to be more competitive and be that girl that others wanted to beat."

Ali will be running for Cazenovia College in the fall but wishes that she had another year to run for the Shamrocks. "Running for coach Mainville taught me that I can do things that I never expected or thought I was capable of."

Colin Benedict and Ali Hart were both named to the Section 10 Second Team All Northern for Cross Country. Ali also received the Travis Freidrich Memorial Sportsmanship Award.

Tiffany has been on the SRC Cross Country team for two years after first being on the soccer team. This was her debut year at the NYS Championship meet. "I was nervous and as prepared as I could be," commented Tiffany. "I learned what it was like to compete at this level and I liked it. Running has helped me with mental strength to keep going and not to stop. It is physically demanding but so beneficial for the body." Tiffany will be running at Keuka College in the fall.