Sports Update: Cross Country Fast Out of the Gates Once Again

By Billy Malewich '12

The Xavier cross country team once again started off the season in what seems to be the norm on 16th Street—fast and not looking back. The beginning of the school year has seen some incredible results posted from individual athletes as well as all three levels for the fifth-ranked team in New York State.

Head coach Patrick Dormer P’17 recently took members of the team upstate to Rochester for the McQuaid Invitational, one of the most prestigious cross country meets in the nation. Oliver Branham-Upton ’20 and Ethan Rice ’20 led the JV squad as they posted the #2 and #3 ATX freshman times for the course. The JV placed all seven scorers under 18 minutes as they grabbed third place as a team. The varsity squad was next, having the top five (Giancarlo Cipri ’17, Sawyer Gwyn-Rowsom ’18, Josef Oettl ’18, Michael Crorkin ’18, and Aidan Donahue ’18) finish within 23 seconds of each other. They took 2nd place in the AA race and 3rd Place on the merge of all the varsity races (out of 228 teams).

A few weeks ago, Xavier competed in the Jim Scott Invitational, a three-team meet with CHSAA rivals Fordham Prep and Regis. Xavier did not disappoint against their rivals, winning at all three levels for the program’s sixth victory in a row in the meet, dating back to 2011. Branham-Upton and Rice led the frosh to a 1-2 finish. Not to be outdone, Jack Pappas ’18 and Connor Anderson ’19 led the JV with a 1-2 finish of their own. The varsity placed seven in the top 9 in a race that saw all runners finish under 10:40, led by Oettl, Donahue, and Gwyn-Rowsom.

The team looks to continue their hot start to the season, with championship season just around the corner at the end of the month. Up next is the Eastern States race at Manhattan College this weekend.

Visit departments.xavierhs.org/athletics/xaviertrack/index.htm for all Xavier XC/Track results, updates, and more.