WPCNR TRACKSIDE. Special to WPCNR By Tim Sheehan.September 29, 2007: Kaylin (“KK”) Gilmartin Donohue of White Plains High, successfully defended her Gressler title today, winning the Girls Varsity A race on the newly configured 2.95 mile WPHS course, finishing in a time of 19 minutes, 25 seconds. Coming off of a 2 week layoff due to an ankle injury, KK stayed with the lead pack until the final 200 yards, where she unleashed a furious kick to win the race. Frosh standout Kelly Maguire (visible in picture just behind the lead pack) pulled ahead of a Harrison runner at the end and finished third.
DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME! KK Gilmartin-Donahue and Kelly McGuire at far turn (in orange) at the key moment today as K.K. pulls in front and Kelly McGuire makes her move for third. WPCNR Photos by Tim Sheehan.
On the boy’s side, Andrew Gelston, Mike Dapice and Brian Broderick finished in the top 10 of the Boys Varsity A race, but a Washingtonville runner claimed the top spot. Team scores were not available, but as a successful cross country team needs the first 5 runners to run well, it did not appear that WP claimed any team titles today.
The annual cross country classic, named after WPHS track/cross country legend Fred Gressler, was run on a newly configured home course, altered due to the loss of the normal start/finish field on the lower level because of the athletic field renovation project. The course is now limited to the two upper field levels of the expansive WPHS property, which seems to increase the number of hills on the course. Indeed, the new finish adds a nasty new hill just 25 yards in front of the finish line (see picture of Varsity A Finish, above).
Junior Varsity Boys Start.
