Finley Cross Country Rides Wave
of Interest
The J. Taylor Finley Middle School cross country program drew an extraordinary amount of interest from students this past fall. Three dozen athletes turned out for the boys' and girls' teams and the Falcons held their own against some very stiff competition.
Coached by Robert Nill, Jr., the Finley boys' squad was captained by Shane McGuire and Connor Grasso. Celine Palermo and Sarah James captained the girls' team.
"Our season started slowly," Nill said. "As the season progressed, the runners improved dramatically. All of last year's returning runners improved their times. The first year runners all improved greatly. Overall, it was a great season. The athletes learned how to train hard and get positive results."
The Finley boys' team finished with a 4-2 mark. McGuire (9:04), Grasso (9:10), Brendan Simpson (9:17), Josh Yanuck (9:33), Lars Drace (9:38) and Thomas Edgar-McNerney (9:49) turned in the fastest 1.5 mile times.
The Falcons' girls' squad compiled a 2-4 record. Alexandra Smith (10:09), Marina Ruzic (10:19), Hannah Hughes (11:11) and Hannah Olesen (11:36) produced the swiftest times over a 1.5 mile distance. Alexandra McKenzie (6:53) and Julia Rogan (7:03) were the fastest runners over a one-mile course.
"The boys' and girls' teams both became stronger as the season progressed," Nill said. The highlight of the year came in the last meet of the season against West Hollow. The Finley boys' and girls' squads each ran personal best times. The Falcon boys won 43-15 and the girls' triumphed 33-24.
Looking ahead to next fall, McKenzie and Rogan will return to lead the Finley girls' team as Smith and Ruzic head to Huntington High School. Yanuck, Drace and Thomas and Xavier Edgar-McNerney are expected to the boys' teams' leading returnees after McGuire, Gross and Simpson move up to the varsity program.