As we (SITRAC) see it

Staten Island Cross Country Girls Championship Preview

On Tues. Nov. 20^th at Clove Lake Park newly crowned PSAL champion Curtis HS and CHSAA champion St. Johns Villa will battle for bragging rights on Staten Island.

Curtis, coached by long time coach the affable Joe Sicilian recently won their first City Cross Country title upsetting last years champ Tottenville. Curtis is lead by Junior Shannon Browne.

Villa is coached by veteran Mike Proffitt who has brought three city titles in cross country to the school. Villa is young, hungry and lead by Soph. Alexis Bivona. The rest of the girls field of runners had better “look out” on Tuesday if Bivona is half as tuff as her dad, former Susan Wagner distance great Dan Bivona .

Also destined to be in the mix is Tottenville which tied Villa for the title last year but lost on places.

The individual race will pit Browne against Bivona. The Island Champs has a history of upsets as different athletes react differently to the pressure of this championship. My pick: someone other that these two favorites. (Pontecarvo from Tottenville maybe a Villa youngster)

My prediction: Villa 56-65 over Curtis with Tottenville third.

Staten Island Cross Country Boys Championship Preview

When I think of recent Island Cross Country Championships I think of St. Peters Boys ending their season with a win or a second place finish. This year Peters jelled early but came up flat in the recent CHSAA championship, failing to even make the state meet. It is rumored that their gun James Cannon has mono. Cannon missed the cities and if he is out of the Islands so is Peters.

Msgr. Farrell. Where do I begin? Second at Sectionals they appeared heading to Bowdoin Park for States but were devastated by their non qualifying performance at cities. They can end their season on a great note by winning another Island championship.

MSIT is the only contender that is hot and confidant. Bruce Lafeir’s Seagulls were second to PSAL powerhouse Stuyvesant at the cities. They are lead by junior Joe Brancale.

Farrell and Peters have an advantage in that their athletes will be fresh for Tuesday.

The individual race will go to Brancale if he doesn’t try to win it in the first 1200Meters. A patient Brancale will beat city champion and defending Island champion Paul LaRocca, (remember Keith Stapleton sat out the meet last year) .

My prediction :go with who’s hot MSIT 55-56 over Farrell, Peters third.