Barker claims N-O cross country boys title; Newfane makes it 8 straight for girls

Photos by Tom Rivers – Mason Allee-Castro of Barker won the boys title in the Niagara-Orleans Cross Country championship today while Kylie Bowman, a Newfane junior, won her third title in the girls race.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2022 at 4:57 pm

CARLTON – The Barker boys cross country team won the Niagara-Orleans League championship today, breaking a five-year reign by the Newfane boys. Barker was back as league champ for the first time since 2016. Barker won the title six times from 2010 to 2016.

Barker was led Mason Allee-Castro, a senior who won the boys race in 17:37. He is Barker’s first league champion since Sergio Cruz won the race in 2013 and 2014.

The Newfane girls won the league title for eighth straight year and were led by Kylie Bowman, a junior who took first in 20:08. She has now won the race the last three years.

The Barker boys and Newfane girls completed undefeated seasons in the Niagara-Orleans League.

Allee-Castro said he trained hard during the summer, logging 45 to 50 miles a week despite working two jobs. He said his teammates also were determined to lower their times and excel this season.

“Hard work really does pay off,” Allee-Castro said.

From left: Jaydan Ruble of Wilson was second with a time of 18:04, followed by Barker’s Luke Fay in third at 19:04 and Barker’s Dawson Donovan in fourth at 19:10.

Jaydan Ruble of Wilson, who finished second, was very close to Allee-Castro the first half of the race. Ruble, a sophomore, led the second place Wilson team.

“Jaydan has always pushed me,” Allee-Castro said. “He is definitely going places.”

Barker also had top 10 finishes from Luke Fay in third place, Dawson Donovan in fourth, and Noah Sandolfini in 10^th. The top five for Barker were rounded out with Aidan Foss in 14^th.

Catalena Ersing of Newfane, left, was second in the race followed by Barker’s Emma Evans.

Barker’s 32 points for first place were followed by Wilson in second with 64, Akron in third with 80, Medina in fourth with 81, Roy-Hart in fifth with 120, Newfane in sixth with 127 and Albion in seventh with 188.

Bowman said she also put in a lot of training over the summer to have a strong fall season. She praised her teammates and coaches for pushing each other.

“I just go out and do it,” Bowman said. “I really enjoy the sport, and our team is super strong together.”

After Bowman’s first place, Newfane’s top five also include Catalena Ersing in second, Jordyn Centner in fourth, Isabella Pasquale in eighth, and Hannah Schulz in 12^th.

Newfane’s 27 points for first place were followed by Akron in second with 69, Barker in third with 95, Wilson in fourth with 103, Roy-Hart in fifth with 106, Albion in sixth with 146, and Medina in seventh with 153.

The league also announced the Barker boys won the sportsmanship award and Wilson won it for the girls.