By Rob Potter
SUNKEN MEADOW — November 12, 2002 – Tri-Valley’s Heather Iatauro came within eight seconds of capturing a second New York State Class D Cross Country Title on Saturday.
Iatauro, a junior, won the 2000 state Class D title as a freshman. At this year’s state championship meet, which was held at Sunken Meadow State Park in Smithtown, Long Island, she finished a close second.
Iatauro ran the 5K (3.1-mile) course in a time of 19:15, which was the eighth fastest among all of the girls’ times recorded at the event. Laura Moser of Beaver River High School won the Class D race with a time of 19:07.
“The Sunken Meadow course is a hard course,” Iatauro said. “There are two tough hills that slow everybody down.”
The second place finish was alright with Iatauro, who won the OCIAA Championship on October 25 at Bear Mountain State Park and captured the Section IX Class D Title a week later on the same course.
“I felt good in the race,” she said of the state competition. “I was with her (Moser) most of the race. But she’s a really good runner and she ran a good race.”
Based on her finish and time, Iatauro qualified for the New York State Federation Meet, which includes top runners from the state meet, as well as runners from private high schools, religious high schools and schools that are not affiliated with the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHAA). That meet will be held this Saturday, November 16, at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls.
The Warwick boys’ team and girls’ teams from Monroe-Woodbury, Warwick and Washingtonville all earned spots at the federation meet. Laura DeWitt of Rhinebeck, who won the girls’ Class C race at Sunken Meadow, also qualified for the federation meet.
A host of Sullivan County athletes competed in this past weekend’s meet. Their results are as follows:
Boys Class B – 104. Tim Billias, Monticello, 18:58.
Boys Class C – 28. Matt Manzi, Liberty, 17:38; 59. Ian Parnett, Sullivan West, 18:10.
Boys Class D – 15. Travis Wolfe, Tri-Valley, 17:43; 50. Brenton Smith, T-V, 18:38; 89. Adam Wilson, T-V, 19:30; 93. Kieran Pierce, Eldred, 19:33.
Girls Class C – 38. Jamie Clifford, SW, 21:16.
Girls Class D – 43. Tara Taylor, T-V, 22:04; 48. Erin Beach, T-V, 22:17; 55. Tracy Taylor, T-V, 22:47.