NEW YORK STATE CROSS COUNTRY: NV'S SILBA LEADS CARDINAL TRIO AT STATE MEET (6 PHOTOS) (2018-11-10)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
KINGS PARK, N.Y. - Marissa Silba raced to a 12th place finish - and another medal - at the 2018 NYSPHSAA Girls Class C Cross Country championships held at Sunken Meadow State Park Saturday.

The senior spearheaded a solid effort from a trio of Cardinal runners, to include Sophie Stewart and Jonny Sherwood - all of whom placed in the top 25 percent in their race on a cold, windy day on Long Island. She clocked a time of 20:09.4.

"I definitely feel like I went all-out, I guess, but I felt like I could have done a little bit more in some parts of the course," Silba said. "I guess I'm kind of happy with it, but I don't know. I didn't collapse at the end, which is kind of the goal, I guess, at the end of a season. I wish I did a little bit better in some parts."

While there was some disappointment in Silba's response, it doesn't take away her accomplishment as one of NV's most celebrated distance runners. She finishes her high school career as a 5-time state qualifier, placing in the top 20 three times.

Likewise, classmate Stewart ends her scholastic cross country career as a 5-time qualifier also. She placed 26th this time around, missing a medal by just six spots. Stewart posted a time of 20:46.8 and was pleased with her performance.

"I felt strong," she said. "The coaches prepared me well, so it was good."

As was the case for the majority of the competitors, the grueling Cardiac Hill presented the greatest challenge for Silba, but Stewart didn't seem to mind running the hilly course.

"I liked it," she said. "I like hillier courses. I'm just a hill person."

Silba and Stewart had 130 runners in their race while the boys race had 131 competitors.

Sherwood, a freshman, crossed the finish line in 32nd place in that event, posting a time of 17:48.8.

Two other Tioga County runners competed in Class C, Waverly's Sheridan Talada and Collin Wright.