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JF
3100 Posts |
 Posted - November 11 2018 : 08:05:11
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High School XC is such a great sport. But, Section 6 has not seen a boys team win the large school race at the NYSPHSAA Championships since Sweet Home in 1986. That team was led by Charlie Kern and coached by Carl Roesch.
Buffalo is the second biggest city in NY----why are we so mediocre in XC? Clarence, Frontier have always had good programs, but never have done well at the state level?
Why?
XXIV |
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JR
264 Posts |
Posted - November 14 2018 : 10:06:48
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John, I really don't know, but sometimes it's just dumb luck. I doubt section 6 kids train any less or are any less committed.
Some analysis may be needed. Do local teams come in 2nd or 3rd a lot? Do they just happen to run into that one or two teams each year that just seems to have the right number of faster kids?
If the local teams were consistently finishing toward the bottom, the you could probably say it's bad coaching/training/motivation. But I will bet its just bad luck. It is a long time though so maybe a breakout year is coming. |
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JF
3100 Posts |
Posted - November 15 2018 : 10:24:48
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JR---they usually finish in the bottom third---6th of 9 or lower. It puzzles me because in the 1980s, we did very well with Clarence, Niagara Falls and of course Sweet Home winning titles---NF was a Federation title.
XXIV |
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autisticfather
364 Posts |
Posted - November 19 2018 : 08:53:45
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| I have been told that other Sections allow private schools {that give out scholarships) to compete with public schools in the sectionals....of course WNY does not....is this true ????????? |
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RunnerXC
266 Posts |
Posted - November 19 2018 : 15:35:40
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| Section VI does NOT allow the private schools to compete in their sectionals. The private schools compete in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association (MMAA) and have their own championship. The winning team and top 3 individuals then have the right to compete at the State Federation meet. (which this year was cancelled) |
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buffalogal
136 Posts |
Posted - November 20 2018 : 08:54:21
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But are the private schools really the issue? Top ranked public schools have been dominating XC, like Fayetteville Manlius, Burnt Hills, Saratoga, Beaver River. Sure, Chaminade and St. Anthony's are perennially good but it's true, we only see them at Feds not at States.
It's a good question why section 6 lags behind the other sections, though. Do they have hillier terrain for training? |
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peteg2
33 Posts |
Posted - November 21 2018 : 06:37:53
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Lack of parks and trails to train on, lack of indoor facilities, and lack of hills all combine to produce weaker, less inspired, and more injury prone runners compared to other areas in the state. Programs like FM are working much, much harder than the programs in this area. I grew up on the Fayetteville/East Syracuse border and saw their athletes at our local YMCA every day before they went to school. Many of them were lifting, swimming, and biking for 90 minutes before school several times per week. The Erie Canal towpath is right there (unpaved) and continues with occasional road crossings for 35 miles. Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville has to be one of the best parks to train at in the entire state.
Additionally, back in the 80s, the Buffalo Metro's population was much larger in comparison to Rochester, Syracuse, and other places than it is now.
I wish I knew what could be done to turn the trend around. |
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millar1987
217 Posts |
Posted - November 23 2018 : 12:48:55
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| I run on trails in Losson Park, Como Park, and Chestnut Ridge Park every time I'm home. |
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RunnerXC
266 Posts |
Posted - November 23 2018 : 16:10:24
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Pete,
As a high school coach yourself and it takes time to establish expectations and culture, could you implicate and execute a higher mileage training program at your school?
Would love to see more Section VI teams do well at the state level. I think it is inspiring kids and getting them to believe they can handle higher mileage. We had a few kids that did extra miles (60-70/wk) and were some of the best in the area.
But again, it takes a certain type of athlete to get to that point. |
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Why?
