Finley Boys’ Cross Country Keeps Pace

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys’ cross country team kept pace this fall. The 16 man strong roster was captained by Gregory Brandine and Gavin Kline.

Finley social studies teacher Jarrad Richter coached the team. The highlight of the season came in wins over Oldfield and Kings Park. “The team is growing year by year and that’s really great to see,” Richter said. “Cross country is a sport that requires a high level of individual commitment on a daily basis, so seeing more and more kids take on the challenge every season has been pretty impressive.”

Finley’s top runners included:

• Gregory Brandine: 8th grader; Finished in the top six in all seven meets, including one first place, two second place, one third place and two fourth place finishes. He was 22nd in a field of 153 runners at the Suffolk middle school championships at Sunken Meadow.

• TJ McDiarmid: 8th grader; Finished in the top nine in all seven meets, including one third place, one fourth place and one fifth place finish. He was 41st out of 153 at the Suffolk middle school championships.

• Palmer Laycock: 7th grader; Finished in the top ten in all seven meets, including a fourth place finish.

“Greg and TJ built on their experience as seventh graders and consistently finished in the top five or six at each of our meets this season,” Richter said. “They’ve clearly got what it takes to excel at the next level. Palmer has great potential. I anticipate some great times next year.”

Laycock will be joined by seventh graders Matt Barch and James Oppenheim as the key returnees to next fall’s Finley cross country team. “They stand to make great strides as eighth graders,” Richter said.

The roster also included Yahel Barak Elitsur, Jovani Campos, Layne Cranz, Dylan Goodwin, Jack Habel, Stewart Henry, Byron Jimenez and Hunter Kline.

“My goal for this team is for them to come together while also pushing each other to be better,” Richter said. “Many of these kids came into this season without ever being part of a team and it showed. I’m looking for the further growth of the program.”