2008 XC Awards

Gina Cristaldi and Andrew Goodspeed, both from Broadalbin-Perth High School, have been selected as winners of the Fulmont Roadrunners Club’s annual Cross-Country Runner of the Year Awards, according to an announcement by Fulmont Roadrunners president Joyce Poulin. The awards honor 2008’s top male and female cross-country runners in Fulton and Montgomery County high schools.

The Fulmont Roadrunners also honored Broadalbin-Perth High’s girls and boys cross-country teams, coached by Jeff Richards, which were Section II, Class B New York State champions.

For their achievements, Cristaldi, Goodspeed, the two teams received specially engraved plaques at the club’s annual Winter Wimp foot race held January 10 in Hagaman.

Cristaldi, a senior, was number one runner on Broadalbin-Perth High’s state championship team. She finished second overall in the Class B sectional championship race and was 11th in the New York State championship race that followed. During the year, she also took firsts in the Burnt Hills and Ft. Plain Invitationals and was fourth in the Foothills Council and Queensbury Invitationals. Gina’s 5K (3.1-mile) personal best time for the year was 18:39.

Boys Runner of the Year award winner Andrew Goodspeed also is a senior at Broadalbin-Perth High and number one runner on the team. Highlights of his cross-country year included a fifth-place finish in the Section II, Class B Championship race in which he and his teammates qualified for the Class B State Championship event, where finished 32nd. In invitational competition during the year, Andrew distinguished himself with a first at Queensbury, second at Fonda, third at Burnt Hills, and fourth in the Foothills Council event. His 5K personal best for 2008 was 16:07.

In addition to the overall winners, the Fulmont Roadrunners select the top male and female cross-country runners in each of the Fulton and Montgomery County high schools that field cross-country teams. They too were honored at the Winter Wimp.

Winners of these Outstanding Cross-Country Runner Awards for 2008 were Jessica Glode and Jesse McNamara of Mayfield High School, Lauren Mosher and Mark Horning of Johnstown High School, Samantha Bielli and Patrick Peterson of Gloversville High School, Sheila Niedziela and Zak Godfrey of Fonda-Fultonville High School, Shinara Beauregard and Dylan Antalek of Canajoharie-Fort Plain High Schools, Jessica Opal Bogden and Justin Ferguson of Broadalbin-Perth High School, and Cecilia Karutis amd Dan Palmerino of Amsterdam High School.