Somers XC makes a good run at Bowdoin Park

SOMERS, N.Y. - On Saturday, Oct. 18, Somers traveled north to tackle the trails at Bowdoin State Park, where the scenic beauty was hard to miss.

Aidan See, on the other hand, had a different perspective.

“I didn’t really notice it,” the Tusker admitted. The hills, though, were another matter.

“There were a lot of them,” he lamented — but not enough to keep him from finishing 14th overall and first for Somers.

Of course, the hills weren’t the only obstacle. “There were a lot of fast runners,” he assured. “So you see them get ahead, and you don’t want to fall behind that much.”

Still, the experience proved motivating. “Running here gives me an idea of what I got to work on and how to improve for the sectionals,” said See.
And the sectionals, he hopes, won’t be the end of the line. “I want to PR and go to the states,” said the junior.

Up next was Gabriel Cacsire. “It was a good finish, but I have a lot to improve for next time.”

He came in with a plan — and it worked well enough for 18th place. “I wanted to go out a bit slower, but as soon as I got to the big hill, I started to push,” said Cacsire.

The downhill to the flat wasn’t much of a break, either. “That’s when everything is burning up, and I know I have to kick,” he said. “So I just told myself that I have to believe in myself.”

The finish line proved his point. “No one around me, I pushed as hard as I could, running as if someone was about to pass,” Cacsire clarified.

Just behind him, Christian Lobasso battled the hills like everyone else. “I try not to think about it and keep my eyes on the people ahead of me,” he said.

The finish, though, brought a little extra motivation. “I saw his shadow and sped up,” said Lobasso.

Looking ahead to the postseason, Lobasso said the race was a valuable preview. “Now I have a good grasp on the course, and I know not to go out too fast,” said the senior.

In fourth for Somers, Lenny Novichenko was glad for the preview as well. “I like getting a feel for this course,” he said.

The girls’ team took the course next, with Julia Duzynski noting a challenge underfoot. “Running on the gravel is the hardest part, because it’s moving under your feet,” she said.

No falls — though she came close a couple of times. Even so, the uncertainty didn’t stop her from finishing fourth. “Bowdoin is just such a competitive race and is motivating to get you to try and run faster,” said the senior.

She also took a moment to appreciate her surroundings. “The scenery was very calming,” said Duzynski.

Looking ahead to sectionals and beyond, Duzynski hopes to reach the state meet — and to leave a lasting mark. Referring to what her four years have hopefully inspired, she said, “I try to inspire my teammates as much as possible and push through so they do too.”

Right behind her, Kaya Duzynski kept it in the family. Coming in just behind her big sister, she found her own motivation on the main hill. “I had to tell myself it would be over soon, and once it was over, I can get back on the downhill,” said the sophomore.

Not as easy as it sounds, she still had a strategy. “I try to go slower on the curves, so I don’t slip. But when the downhills were straight, I went as fast as I could,” she revealed.

It’s knowledge she plans to build on. “I know what my strategy will be, and where I’m going to have to kick,” said Duzynski.

As for catching her sister, she offered a good-natured concession — for now. “Maybe I can beat her in spring track, but I’m not going to win in cross country,” said the younger Duzynski.

In third place for Somers, Paige Parker wasn’t seeing double. “That’s the thing about Somers track,” said the sophomore. “We all try to push each other and work as a team.”

Still, she’s strong on her own. “I like to think of things that make me happy,” Parker said. “I get some dopamine released, so I’m not focused on how tired I am.”

Her racing approach was straightforward. “I keep my eye on the person ahead of me, because I know if I stick with them, I can eventually pass them,” said Parker.

And in the end, the setting itself made the effort worthwhile. “The park makes me appreciate that I get to be outside on a Saturday, because not everyone can run and not everyone has the opportunity to come here,” she concluded.