Youth dominate X-C challenge

VOORHEESVILLE — In the first inaugural Cross-Country Challenge 5K on Saturday, a 9-year-old won the women’s race.

The challenge took place at Wallace Park on Swift Road in New Scotland on the home course of Voorheesville’s cross-country team and was organized by the team’s coach, Phil Carducci.

Carducci said he wanted to show the course off to the public.

The Cross-Country Challenge was not a road race, said Carducci.

“It’s grass, dirt, crushed stone, and it could be muddy,” he said. “There are a couple of hills, not too bad, but enough to make you think ‘What am I doing here?’”

The top three female finishers were: Rylee Davis, 9, of Delmar, in 22:47; Sarah Mattfeld, 12, of Voorheesville, in 24:30; and Kirsten Ackerman, 22, of Delmar, in 28:13.

The top three male finishers were: Tyler Gumina, 22, of Rochester, in 19:35; Luke Breslin, 37, of Monterey, Massachusetts, in 20:52; and Matt Roberts, 50, of Brooklyn, in 21:46.

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