Snyder TC and Ridge Runners earn team qualifiers
Niagara athletes turned in an impressive slate of performances at the 2025 USATF Region 2 Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships, held Saturday, November 22 at White Oack Park in White Oak, PA. . With athletes from New Jersey, Niagara, Mid-Atlantic, and Three Rivers vying for the top-30 qualifying spots to move on to the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships(December 13, Shelbyville, IN),Niagara runners rose to the challenge across all age divisions.
In the first race of the day, Niagara delivered one of its most dominant performances when Delaney Drexinger (Snyder Track Club) won the Region 2 title with a wire-to-wire victory. Snyder Track Club placed four additional athletes inside the top 20 to comfortably win the team competition with just 24 points
National Qualifiers (Niagara): Delaney Drexinger, Madelyn Milliman, Tori Reuben, Brielle Lijewski, Veronica Guzman, Isabella Fleet
In the 8 & under boys race Orson Todd and Trent Tomczak placed 11th and 12th, respectively, to lead the association. Johnathan Brusso (15th) of Southern Tier SOAR and Charles Ramsden 16th also finished well within qualifying range. Snyder Track Club placed second in the team standings, securing a team berth to nationals.
National Qualifiers (Niagara): Orson Todd, Trent Tomczak, Johnathan Brusso, Charles Ramsden, Levi Kiera, Camden Ertel, Ryan Gratien, Henry Fleet, Jameson Reinholz
The 9–10 girls continued the momentum with Leighton Hayes finishing sixth to lead a strong Snyder group that placed eight runners inside the top 26. Their depth easily earned them the team victory, scoring a perfect 15 points, and national advancement.
National Qualifiers (Niagara): Leighton Hayes, Jane Burke, Nora Miner, Molly Gratien, Harper Fischer, Vera Norris, Avery Ebbecke, Camille Tauriello, Eliza Kapral
The 9–10 boys produced a massive haul of Niagara qualifiers, led by Camden Skinner, who finished 16th in a highly competitive field. Snyder Track Club’s remarkable depth was on display, with more than a dozen runners placing in the top 45, and six qualifying for nationals as individuals. Snyder Track Club placed third in the team standings to secure another national team qualification.
National Qualifiers (Niagara): Camden Skinner, Derrick Colebeck, William Lawniczak, Taylor Harvey, Adam Pincoski, Dylan Strzelczyk,
This division featured one of the most exciting team battles of the day, with Ridge Runners TXC edging Snyder by just one point for the title. Elise Brady (Snyder TC) placed fourth overall to lead all Niagara athletes, while Ridge Runners placed three runners (Ellie Lantzer, Addilynn Fox, Allison Ebbecke) inside the top 20 to secure the team win over Ridge Runners.
National Qualifiers (Niagara): Elise Brady, Ellie Lantzer, Addilynn Fox, Allison Ebbecke, Mia Kiera, Emma Engl, Charlotte Ford
In the 11-12 boys race, Maximilian Lines placed ninth with a strong run to nab a top 10 finish. Xander Bascoe (Ridge Runners TXC) stuck inside the top 30 to earn his national championship qualifier.
National Qualifiers (Niagara): Maximilian Lines, Xander Bascoe
The 13-14 girls race saw four Niagara runners earn their spots on the start line at the national championships highlighted by Emma Campeau, who finished eighth for Ridge Runners TXC.
National Qualifiers (Niagara): Emma Campeau Jordyn Werder, Evelyn Mabee, Katherine Gaughan
Niagara placed six athletes in the top thirty. Russell Morseman IV (unattached) finished 10th with Landon Lombardo (unattached) finishing close behind in 12th place.
National Qualifiers (Niagara): Russell Morseman IV, Landon Lombardo, Jacob Kaufman, Johnny Bauer, Austin Zelter, Donovan Drexinger
The oldest boys division featured one of Niagara’s top results of the meet, as Michael Ciripompa finished as the overall runner-up, confidently punching his ticket to nationals.
National Qualifier (Niagara): Michael Ciripompa