Pearl River Cross Country Teams Face Stiff Competition

Tomorrow afternoon cross country takes center stage as the Pearl River boys and girls host strong North Rockland and Suffern squads at the Pearl River Middle School. 

Both Pirate teams boast unbeaten records of 5-0 in dual meets with the girls looking for their 187th consecutive dual meet victory. 

“It is going to be as good a dual meet as I have been a part of in my nine years of coaching," said Pearl River boys coach Mike Kiernan  "The three schools have quality teams and are so evenly matched.”   

Kiernan hopes that the Pirates bounce back from a somewhat subpar
performance last weekend at the Wave Mania Invitational in Warwick, NY, due in part to injuries. 

“Brian Edsall was our top finisher," Kiernan said. "He finished fifth overall in a race that had 120 kids and for the first time really led the team.

"We have had a very strong start.  The guys have been working hard and running well together.  In the last seek we have been hit by the injury bug.  Kieran Brennan didn’t race on Saturday and is very questionable for tomorrow and during that race Joe Clinton had to drop out because he hyper extended his knee."

Kiernan hopes that his team shows the form it exhibited at the VVS Invitational a prestigious meet which was held near Syracuse on September 17. 

“We won that meet," Kiernan said. "Our first four runners; Kieran Brennan, Brian Edsall, Stephen McNiff and Joe Clinton; were very strong.  We had a freshman, Ben McDermott, step up as our fifth man.  Also, Brian Cook, a sophomore, is a gutsy kid and developed quicker than I thought he would.

“We showed good depth placing 9th, 10th, 11th, and 14th among the 242 runners in the race. That bumped us up to 2nd in the
state in class B with new ratings being released early this week.”

Looking toward the meet against Suffern and North Rockland, Kiernan is cautiously optimistic. 

“With the injuries, I am happy with the team’s depth," Kiernan said. "Hopefully that depth will help with our top two runners out at this point.  It is going to be interesting.  At full strength, on paper, we would be the favorite.  But with things the way they are now it is very much a toss up.”

Girls Meet

Coach Dan Doherty’s girls are coming off an outstanding performance at the Wild Safari Cross Country Invitational in Jackson, NJ. Pearl River placed first in the Class B team standings (Suffern finished in second place).  Molly Shine finished on top in the individual competition. 

“At mid season we are progressing," Doherty said. "A couple of kids had minor injuries earlier in the year, but they are getting better.  Hopefully we keep getting better each week.  Saturday’s meet was by far our best day and shows we are moving in the right direction. 
Our girls finished first, fourth, seventh and ninth.

“In the Junior Varsity race our girls took first through fifth places and eleven out of the top 21.  That really speaks to our depth this year.”

Doherty expects strong competition Tuesday.

“We are facing two very good teams," Doherty said. "It will be a tough meet.  It seems like whenever we run we have a target on our back, everyone wants to break that streak.  My philosophy is we don’t really care about the 186 wins.  We want to win two meets tomorrow.”

Doherty added that he will be looking to the Lady Pirates core of top runner including Shine. Kelly Hayes, Ceili McMorrow, Maria Kohlbrenner, Laura Cooper and Emma Haley. 

“It will be close with our front runners, up there near the lead and, the other girls will have to follow as close as possible," Doherty said. "Hopefully, if anyone has an off day someone will be there to pick it up for them.  We need to do our best and run a smart race.”