SECTION 4 CROSS COUNTRY: HORSEHEADS' KOWAL QUALIFIES FOR STATES, SYDLANSKY JUST MISSES STATES ON GIRLS SIDE (21 PHOTOS) (2024-11-08)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
CHENANGO VALLEY — As he approached the finish line a huge smile broke out on the face of Horseheads junior Nicholas Kowal.

The Blue Raiders standout knew as h was finishing the race that he was headed to states for the first time.

“I’m really excited,” Kowal said. “I was just happy. I didn’t feel any pain because I was just so excited.”

As Kowal got toward the final stretch he started to realize there was a pretty big gap between himself and the sixth place individual runner. The top five individuals each qualify for states.

“At the start I tried to stick with them, with 800 left there was such a big gap between me and the sixth place that I kind of thought I was going to get it (states). But, I kept going and I got it.”’

For Kowal while he was focused on the runners ahead of him, he couldn’t help but pay some attention to what was behind him.

“I was trying to focus on the people in front of me,” Kowal said. “But, I couldn’t help looking back, but just realizing how big of a gap there was, I just pushed myself even further so I could finish.”

As he neared the finish line Knowal just broke out into the smile.

“Really big (smile),” he said. “I wanted it (states).”

Kowal was 10th overall in 17:15, with five of the runners ahead of him on the winning team, Ithaca. The other four state qualifiers were from Corning. Kowal was able to finish ahead of Corning’s fifth runner, Bryce Hammond, to get the last spot in states.

“I know the Corning kids well,” Kowal said. “I’ve been racing them the last two meets right with them. And, I knew what I had to do. I knew I had to beat one of their top five and that’s what I did.”

As he got to the one-mile mark Kowal started to realize he was running well enough to make states.

“When we came through the first mile in like 5:10 and it felt pretty easy I was like okay, I’ve got a good shot and I just stayed with them,” Kowal said. “And, 800 meters left I kind of knew I had it and I just finished.”

Horseheads was third as a team at 79 points. Ithaca won at 22, followed by Corning (34).

Gavin Hornsby was 16th in 18:06 and Allen Wetmore was 18th in 18:09.

Hunter Lewis was 23rd in 18:36 and Max Williams was 25th in 18:41 followed by Luke Dordoni (18:45) and Jack Sydlansky (18:45). Joseph Juan was 29th in 19:08 followed by Finn Van Buskirk in 19:49.

On the girls side Suzanne Sydlansky just missed states, taking 10th in 21:47.90.

Alexus Borek was 20th in 23:41.40 and Cecilia Cowen was 25th in 25:23.80 followed by Stella Harrison (25:40.80) and Sophia Christmas (26:02.40).

Horseheads was third at 77 points. Corning won at 27 followed by Ithaca (35).
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES

PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE MEET:

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