Female Team of the Year: Saratoga Springs cross country

Female Team of the Year

Saratoga Springs cross country

There were four Class A all-state teams released following the season comprised of a total of 28 runners. The Blue Streaks occupied eight of those slots. As impressive as that feat is, it still may not accurately portray just how dominant the Blue Streaks were throughout the fall.

With much of the squad returning from a 2019 team that captured the Nike Cross Nationals championship in Portland, Ore., there were high hopes regarding Saratoga repeating that feat. However, there were no sectional, regional, state or Federation races held in 2020. In addition, national events such as NXN also were canceled.

"The season wasn't what everyone wanted, but we all had to go through the same thing," Saratoga junior star Ella Kurto said. "We tried to keep a positive mindset and do the best we could. I think everyone exceeded expectations. We all trained very hard on our own."

Guided by the veteran husband and wife tandem of head coach Art Kranick and assistant coach Linda Kranick, the Blue Streaks competed in eight races. They won all eight races easily and swept the top five scoring spots seven times, the final occasion coming in the Suburban Council championships on Nov. 23 at Saratoga Spa State Park. On that day, Saratoga not only captured the top five spots — Kurto, junior MacKenzie Hart, sophomore Sheridan Wheeler, freshman Emily Bush and freshman Anya Belisle — it also secured three of the next five places with senior Cristina DeMeo coming in seventh, freshman Alycia Hart crossing the line 10th and junior Catherine Mongan finishing in 11th.

The only time the Blue Streaks did not register a perfect score of 15 points came in a Week 4 dual meet against Shaker when freshman Leonni Griffin finished fifth for the Blue Bison in a 16-49 setback.

"Art and I are very proud of them. They kept their focus," Linda Kranick said. "Every season is different. This has been a challenge. We tell the kids, 'a challenge forces you to be more creative and more focused.' Sometimes, you work when you are challenged and don't back down. We were very happy with what they accomplished. In spite of everything going on, these kids still came through."

Kurto, an oral commit to North Carolina State, is the latest in a long line of star runners competing for the Blue Streaks. She combined with DeMeo, the team's lone senior, to make sure the team maintained its elite level despite a season in which teams ran separately and competed against the clock.

"Ella leading from the front and Cristina keeping the team together was the perfect combination," said Linda Kranick, who also serves as the Suburban Council league representative. "When you have a front-runner who is a great kid, works hard and is focused like Ella and then you have Christina, the senior on the team who keeps it all together, it was amazing."

The 2021 season is fast approaching and Kurto is excited about her team's prospects.

"We have the winning team from NXN returning, plus a few other good runners joining us," Kurto said.

Finalists

Burnt Hills volleyball: The preeminent program in the area delivered another superlative season as the Spartans won all 20 of their matches in straight sets. Burnt Hills went 17-0 during the regular season and then won three matches in the season-ending Suburban Council Tournament. Three of the six members of the Times Union’s All-Star first team came from Burnt Hills. 

Shenendehowa basketball: A team that clearly could have challenged for a Class AA state title was not afforded the opportunity. Without sectionals or state tournaments, the Plainsmen won all 15 games by double-digit margins. After winning 12 games during the Suburban Council season, Shen routed Bethlehem, Albany and Saratoga Springs in the league tournament to finish with an average margin of victory of nearly 38 points per game.