Symoniak wins Class A race; Szymkowiak qualifies for states
Cross country
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst Central's Brenna Symoniak won her first Section VI cross country title last Friday at Elma Meadows Golf Course. Symoniak won the race in 19:03. It's the 14th-fastest time for the course. File photo

For the second time in school history, Amherst Central has a Section VI champion in cross country.

Amherst sophomore Brenna Symoniak won the Class A race with a time of 19:03.8 at last Friday's Section VI Championships at Elma Meadows Golf Course. Arielle Januszkiewicz, an assistant coach with the Lady Tigers, won the race five years ago.

"Amherst is definitely not a big running school, so it was cool to be able to do it," said Symoniak.

"Her goal was to be section champion and she did it, which was great," said Amherst coach Bob O'Donnell.

Symoniak beat second place finisher Amanda Solly of West Seneca East by 15 seconds. Symoniak's time is the 14th-best time ever for the course.

"I was hoping to win by a lot," said Symoniak.

"She's one of those runners that push themselves without anyone close to them," said O'Donnell. "She wants to win decisively."

Amherst's David Szymkowiak took fifth in the Class A race at Friday's Section VI Championships at Elma Meadows Golf Course to qualify for Saturday's New York State Championships. Photo by Amy Krakowiak Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Solly had been Symoniak's toughest competition throughout the season. Symoniak said to motivate herself for sectionals, she imagined Solly had won the race.

Symoniak was ready for the 3.1 mile course.

"The course had a lot of hills so I had practiced running places that had a lot of hills," she said. "I think it gave me an advantage over the other runners."

It's the third year Symoniak has qualified for the New York State Championships, which are to be held Saturday at Norfolk High School in Norfolk, N.Y. The entire Amherst girls team went two years ago; she qualified as an individual last year.

"I'm really nervous because there are a lot of good runners in my class," said Symoniak, who is ranked 12th in the state in Class A. "I've heard the course has a lot of hills. I think it should be a good race."

Amherst took third out of 11 teams. Sophomore Tori Sosnowski finished tenth in 21:09. Olivia May, another sophomore, placed 20th in 22:16. Senior Diane Herzog (22:32), junior Katie Smith (23:17), senior Violet Pena (23:37) and freshman Cailtin Burke (24:08) also ran well.

Symoniak isn't the only competitor from Amherst to advance to states.

Senior David Szymkowiak from the boys team qualified as the fifth individual in 17:04. He placed eighth in the race.

The winning team and the next five individuals not on the winning team qualify for states.

"This is everything for my season right now and I know my team is going to be excited too," said Szymkowiak.

Szymkowiak caught Starpoint's Ryan Wentz and William Barclay in the last 600 meters of the race to qualify.

Senior Jeremy Jones was Amherst's next best finisher with a time of 19:04.

Juniors Kory Roche (19:16) and Elliot Bible (19:49), junior Tyler Brown (20:08) and freshman Kyle Cotter (20:16) also ran for the Tigers, which placed seventh as a team.

(Intern David Bennett contributed to this article)

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com