Winners of eight of the last nine state Class B boys' cross country championships, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake's postseason run starts with Saturday's Suburban Council championship before the Spartans aim to win the Section 2 team title and advance to the state title meet at Queensbury on Nov. 14.
Burnt Hills brought back four of its top seven runners from last year's team. The Spartans have a trio of competitors, Ethan Owen, Jackson Majewski, and Dylan Piel, leading the way.
The Class A title will be up for grabs at sectionals in both the individual and team competitions with many quality runners and teams capable of winning out on any given afternoon.
Here are seven runners who could be poised for a big postseason surge,
Isaac Deyoe, Shaker senior
Class: AWhat to know: The Blue Bison senior finished second in his race at the Manhattan Invitational and ranks third among Section 2 runners in Class A speed rating this season. Deyoe was eighth in a field of 247 at the pre-states race at Queensbury in September.
Calvin Howard, Bethlehem senior
Class: A- What to know: Howard's fourth-place finish at sectionals last year made him the top returning Section 2 runner from that Class A race. Howard ranks third in the section this year in Class A in speed rating and won the Ed Springstead title at the Albany County championship meet this season.
Joe Kosier, Guilderland senior
Class: A- What to know: Kosier was impressive on the Queensbury course at the pre-states meet with his second-place finish behind the state's top ranked runner, Ryan Sykes of Horace Greeley. Kosier ranks second in the state Class A rankings for speed rating as he heads into the postseason hoping to claim a second consecutive bid to the state championships.
Jackson Majewski, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake sophomore
Class: BWhat to know: Majewski ranks sixth in Class B this season in speed rating and is coming off a ninth-place finish at states a year ago. Majewski was second to teammate Ethan Owen at the Section 2 championship last year and figures to be among the top runners again in November.
Ethan Owen, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake senior
- Class: B
What to know: The Spartans senior ranks third overall in the state in speed rating this season. Owen is the defending Section 2 champ in Class B and, should he qualify for states, would be the top returning runner in Class B following his third-place finish in 2025.
Brent Pasek, Saratoga Springs senior
- Class: A
- What to know: The senior has emerged as a big part of the Blue Streaks squad this season. Pasek won the Saratoga Invitational and his speed rating ranks fourth in the state among Class A runners.
Dylan Piel, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake junior
- Class: B
What to know: Piel's effort in the team scoring will be vital if Burnt Hills is going to win the Section 2 title and advance to states. Piel ranks third among Section 2 Class B runners in speed rating this season.
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There’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at 7 Section 2 boys' cross country runners to know as postseason begins.