Ferguson heads to state meet

PJ Ferguson is headed to states.

Ferguson followed up last month’s Adirondack League Championship with a seventh place finish among Class D runners at last Friday’s Section II Championships held at Spar Park.

Based on the virtue of his performance,Fergusonqualified for the State Cross Country Championships on Nov. 12 atVernon-VeronaSherrilHigh School.

The top five runners not on the winning team qualify for states.

The meet will be the first timeFergusonhas appeared in the state championships.

Ferguson, who has not lost a dual meet all season and has performed well at many of the larger meets as well, completed the 3.1 mile course in 16:49.18, nearly the identical the time he registered on the same course at the Greenwich Invitational on Oct. 21. Coincidently he finished seventh in that race as well.

Derek Struck from Berne Knox Westerlo won the race with a time of 15:55.33.

Also competing for Whitehallwere Toran Tracy (49th place, 19:37), Tyler Sweenor (62nd, 20:27), Julian Barber (66th, 21:07), Tyler Perry (68th,21:09).

As a team the Railroaders finished in seventh place out of 11 teams.

Taryn Tracy was the top female finisher for Whitehall, completing a strong season with a 22nd place finish among class D runners. She completed the course in23:20.

Victoria Koeble finished in 47th place and Marion Gendron finished in 53rd place.

Courtney Tedeschi of Berne Know Westerlo won the race in 18:50.

For Gendron, Toran Tracy and Tyler Perry, their high school running careers are complete. All four have been longtime members of the team and are expected to graduate in the spring.

Sweenor and Barber, a sophomore and freshmen, respectively return withFergusonto form what could become a very powerful three-some in the Adirondack League.

Taryn Tracy, only a sophomore could be among the top females in the league next year and Koeble could emerge as a threat after her first year at the varsity program.

The one person not looking toward next year isFerguson, who has one more race left.