NYS Federation Championship Recap

The top PSAL teams and individuals took on the top runners from all over New York state this past weekend at Bowdoin Park. The meet was a combination of the NYS Federation Championships and Nike Cross Regionals, so the top teams and individuals would also earn a trip to Oregon. At the end of the day, the PSAL had 4 All-Federation runners and 1 qualifier for Nike Cross Nationals.

Boys Federation Race

The Bronx Science boys started hot and were in 6th place at the halfway point of the race. Coming down the mountain they weren’t as lucky. PSAL Champion Benjamin Berman, who was 5th at the halfway point, dropped to 91st. Liam Hernandez, who ran 17:00 here in September, ran 17:59 to finish 166th.  The bright spot was senior Bansi Pande, who ran an excellent race to earn All-Federation, finishing 34th in 16:52.  Even with the wheels coming off, Bronx Science still finished 12th, by far the highest of any PSAL boys team this season.

Brooklyn Tech, who finished 2nd here last year, finished 21st. They were led by Amos Pres, who ran 16:47 to finish 33rd and earn All-Federation honors. PSAL runner-up Alexander Jones was in 20th at the halfway point, but faded to finish 111th.

MSIT, finished 22nd, 29 points behind Brooklyn Tech. They were led by junior Simon Saffayeh, who ran 17:24 to finish 87th.

Stuyvesant rounded out the PSAL squads, finishing 29th of 31 schools in the race. Junior Raphael Ramot led the way, running 17:17 to finish 77th.

Individual Qualifiers

Umed Maru – Academy of American Studies – 55th – 17:03

Ramsey Hansen – Bard – 107th – 17:35

Jasper Graham – Hunter College Campus – 133rd – 17:44

Ariel Yaron – LaGuardia – 137th – 17:44

Jack McCurry – HS of American Studies – 138th – 17:44

Oliver Flor – Hunter College Campus – 155th – 17:51

Giuseppe Gambino – HS for Construction – 170th – 18:05

Anand Maru – Academy of American Studies – 198th – 18:25

Gavin Ashe – John Jay Campus – 211th – 18:36

Randy Nieva – Curtis – 218th – 18:38

Brendan Hofmann – HS for Math, Science and Engineering – 221st – 18:39

Isaac Tom – HS for Math, Science and Engineering – 254th – 19:07

Girls Federation Race

In a meet that relies heavily on having front-runners to score well, it was no surprise that LaGuardia finished as the top PSAL team. PSAL Champion Naomi Douglas finished 5th overall, scoring 4 points in the team scoring. Douglas ran 18:52 to earn All-Federation honors and qualify for Nike Cross Nationals out in Oregon. This is the highest finish for a PSAL female since 2011 when Alexis Panisse of Benjamin Cardozo ran 18:18 to finish 3rd in a race won by Mary Cain. Douglas and her coach James Marty devised an excellent race plan and Naomi executed it perfectly. Running patiently between 15th and 20th around the playground, she got to 10th by the top of the course. Then, as the contenders fell off of eventual winner Zariel Macchia’s blistering pace, Douglas ran them down one by one to finish in the top 5. PSAL runner-up Gwyneth Shupp ran 19:57 to finish 58th. As a team they finished 16th. (After two finishers, they were in 5th place!)

The Bronx Science girls ran very well to finish 21st. Rossitsa Petrova ran 20:55 to finish 113th and Charlotte Wang ran 21:08 to finish 128th.

PSAL Champs Brooklyn Tech finished 25th. They were led by Susana Sharp, who finished 87th in 20:27.

Stuyvesant rounded out the PSAL teams on the girls side as well. They finished 27th of 30 teams, led by junior Emma Savonije, who ran 21:18 to finish 138th.

Individual Qualifiers

Melia Murphy – The Clinton School – 40th – 19:36 - ALL-FEDERATION

Noa Yirmiyahu – Hunter College Campus – 73rd – 20:14

Riley Tefft – Curtis – 105th – 20:42

Aisha Wajid – Dewitt Clinton – 118th – 21:00

Eleanor Lewis Jenkins – Bard – 142nd – 21:21

Milani Jackson – Susan Wagner – 154th – 21:34

Raquel Pasco – Chelsea Career and Technical – 155th – 21:38

Olivia McComiskey – Tottenville – 164th – 21:45

Christina Sakellis – Bayside – 189th – 22:09

Melisa Davila – Susan Wagner – 208th – 22:31

Haley Rodriguez – HS of American Studies – 216th – 22:41

Malina Rodriguez-King – Susan Wagner – DNF (hope she’s ok!)

Stay Tuned this weekend as we give thanks for the cross country season that was, with a full season recap with awards and even a way-too-early preview of the 2025 season.