NEW YORK STATE GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: WAVERLY'S TALADA, FRITZEN BATTLE COLD IN CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIP; TALADA MEDALS (4 PHOTOS) (2019-11-16)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Valley Sports Report
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - After getting a taste of competing at the state level last year, Waverly's Sheridan Talada wanted more, so she set a goal of medalling at the NYSPHSAA Cross Country Championships this year.

On Saturday, at SUNY Plattsburgh, the senior placed 15th in the Class C girls race, earn ing that coveted medal for being among the top 20 finishers.
"Pretty great," she said of her effort. "It feels good to get that goal," she said.

Talada stuck to her pre-race strategy and never faltered on the frozen course, which had a few muddy patches despite temperatures in the low 20s, as well as some paved sections.

"I wanted to get out fast, because I knew it was going to be a quick start, and then just maintain, keep my pace up and everything," she said, noting the conditions were a concern when the day began.

"I was a little worried at first, but once I started running I didn't even feel cold," Talada said. "I don't think it hurt my race. Running on pavement, it's a little different, but I didn't mind. The only part I felt slowed me down was there were some muddy parts."

The Wolverines' other entry, Elizabeth Fritzen, placed 56th in her state debut with a time of 19:21.1, but said it wasn't her best effort.

"I was definitely planning to run a better race," she said. "I feel like I just kind of got a little too nervous just before the race, thinking about it and everything."

The senior suffers from exercise-induced asthma and the cold weather works against her. The temperature was 23 degrees at the start of her race.

"I have really bad breathing problems and the cold weather was really hurting my asthma," she said.

Fritzen would finish in the top half of the field of 128 runners, so she gets bonus points for battling through adversity.

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Sheridan Talada. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.