Cross Country pair prepare for state championships Saturday

Jameson Kessler and Ema Garcia will compete for state titles on Saturday, having qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championship meet at Queensbury High School.

Kessler, a senior, will run in the boys Class C championship at 9:30 a.m. and Garcia, a junior, runs in the girls race at noon.

At the Section 9 championships Nov. 3, Kessler placed second in Class C, running the 5,000-meter race in 17:10.9, after running a personal-best 12:26.8 at the Mid-Hudson Athletic League Championships Oct. 22, earning second.

Garcia was eighth among all Section 9 Class C girls Nov. 3 in a time of 22:07.4. She also recorded a personal-best time at the MHAL meet, 21.18.7, placing 13th.

The athletes were given a rousing farewell at the school today before they leave to travel north and prepare for the meet.

“We are incredible proud of their hard work, dedication and achievement,” Quintin Johnson, athletics director, said. “We wish them the best of luck as they represent Red Hook on the state stage!”

Learn more about the meet, including how to get tickets, at the NYSPHSAA meet site, https://nysphsaa.org/tournaments/?id=9&path=