The Newburgh Free Academy boys’ cross country team will return their two top runners from last season and two state qualifiers.

The Goldbacks will weather the loss of runner Jadin O’Neal, but return Devin Batelic, who qualified for the state meet in 2022 as a sophomore and Brady Danyluk, who qualified for the state championship meet last season. Danyluk also set the Newburgh Free Academy course record at Chadwick Lake Park with a time of 15:56.

“We’re looking to build off that and continue to grow a distance-running winning culture in Newburgh,” Newburgh eighth-year coach Chris Marino said.

The program has a mixed roster with nine graduating seniors and nine inexperienced seniors.

In addition, Joe Gaito, Kiernan Judson, and Oren Miller will return to the Goldbacks as they look to improve on last year’s 2-2 record.
Junior Kendy Georges will join the team.

Girls
The girls’ team will enter the season losing their top runner from last year – Natalia Sweat. Alexandra Swink also graduated from the team.

Mary Jane Politi, Isabella Blanco and Julia Coyle will return to the team this year. Vanessa Caraballo, Sariyah Delgado, Brianna Prescott, Jordan Prescott, Mia Soto and Marilyn Oppenheimer will join the team.

“We’re trying to grow the program and get out top girls to states,” Newburgh coach Kathi Workman said.

The road to the state meet will run through some familiar ground as the Section 9 championship meet will return to Bear Mountain State Park on Nov. 6. The park was closed due to flooding last season, moving the meet to Sanfordville Elementary School in Warwick.

Both teams opened the season on Tuesday with a multi-meet at Sanfordville Elementary School in Warwick against Port Jervis, Pine Bush, Homestead School, and Warwick.