The Scoop: Elite Matchups, Big Debuts And More

* Emily Bush of Saratoga Springs (left) and Angelina Napoleon of Allegany-Limestone (right) went toe-for-toe at the V-V-S Invitational

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Over the last week, MileSplit released its MileSplit50 preseason individual and team rankings. A handful of the top 25 girls raced at the V-V-S Invitational in New York.

Throughout the day, there were six boys and girls waves that lined up at VVS High School in Verona, New York.

Saratoga Springs (NY) put together a winning team this weekend with a 19:45.1 average. The senior Emily Bush, No. 23 on the preseason list, won the race in 18:23.1 and earned a 143 speed rating for her efforts.

Anya Belisle, Sheridan Wheeler, Alycia Hart, and eighth grader Heidi Berglund finished in the top 33 to solidify the victory for the Blue Streaks. 

Among other competitors, Kate Putman of Cicero-North Syracuse (NY) finished second overall with a 18:35.9 to win a different wave.

Izzie Sullivan, the No. 11 ranked runner this preseason, had the third-fastest performance of the day with a 18:40.1. Her teammate, Hannah Kaercher, was ranked No. 22 and finished fifth among the 705 runners. Their efforts led FM to a second-place team finish with a 19:55 average on the course.

On the boys side, Fayetteville-Manlius had two boys take charge of this race.

Nolan McGinn was the only boy to go sub 16 minutes for 5K and finished with a 15:42.9 for a 194 speed rating. His teammate Anthony Otis clocked a 16:22.0 for second. Solomon Holden-Bett, the senior from Baldwinsville, had the third-fastest time of the day with a 16:23.5.

When it came to the team standings, Corning (NY) won the title over Monroe-Woodbury (NY) and Saratoga Springs with a 17:02 average.