Sachem North senior Elise Ramirez’s last race of her high school cross country (XC) career was wonderful. Elise became the first Sachem North XC runner to compete at States last year. Elise repeated as a NYS Championship Meet competitor this year with a strong race effort last weekend and an automatic bid to the Federation Championship Meet held at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls today based on her States race finish as a top two Section XI finisher.
Elise began preparations for today’s race by putting on the pair of Old Navy lucky socks that have served her so well in her third straight All-County season and in the finest season of a high school career that includes many race wins, course records and invitational and post-season honors.
Elise started today’s race a little faster than she might otherwise have done. She may have been pulled along by a fast starting Taylor McClay of Eastport-South Manor (they were both assigned to starting line Box 4) or by adrenaline or by an awareness that a little quickness at the start may help gain a favorable position before the long climb to the halfway point of the race course.
Bowdoin Park’s hills proved tough for Elise as they did for many in the race field. Elise was passed by some rivals after crossing the bridge to a mile section of the course that features a heavy dose of hills. Coming out of the hills just past the halfway mark in the course was a different story.
Elise was energized as she raced down the first steep downhill of the course. She was in contact with a large, somewhat strung out pack. Elise began her move through the pack. With less than a mile to go, Elise passed Coach Alex Young at a turn marked by a tree with a “Start” sign posted on it. Her turn at this mark would bring Elise along the Hudson River and Metro North railroad tracks in a 600 meter run to the bridge and the final 1000 miles of her Sachem XC career. “Go now!” Young directed. There were many runners to catch and pass as Elise set up the last part of her race.
This section of the race featured a gentle but constant downhill. A little push, a quicker turnover could move Elise up from the 82nd spot she had in the race at this point. Elise began slicing through the field. Later, Elise confessed that she thought she was coming up to the bridge and that she had 1000 to go, not a mile. This error would provide great advantage to Elise as she reached the bridge and continued moving through the field. The final 1000 meters was generally flat with a downhill grade at the bottom of the athletic fields. The last turn in the course featured one last climb before cresting the hill with less than 200 yards to go.
Elise was still chasing down runners as she crested the hill. In her final straightaway, Elise passed several more runners before crossing the finish line in 65th place. Elise passed 17 runners in the last mile of her race. The final stretch of the race showed Elise’s determination to pass and hold off rivals as well as her mental toughness and refusal to yield a race position she fought so hard to gain.
19:45.10 after the starter’s pistol sounded, Elise finished what she started just over three years ago. A great race and the end of a career that so many Sachem North harriers will mark their own progress against for years to come. Perhaps they should start with a pair of lucky socks…
-Submitted by Sachem North coaching staff