Affolder brothers 1-2 in Northeast regional

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

Bronx, N.Y. – Carlisle High’s Noah and Sam Affolder spent this past week training in different states.

Older brother Noah, was in New York, the state they used to live in. Sam stayed put in Pennsylvania.

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Both were training with the mindset to win the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Cross Country Championship.

During Saturday morning’s race at Van Cortlandt Park, defending champion Noah was tested to the limit by his younger brother on the 5,000-meter course.

“For while there, about 4K, I took the lead over him,” Sam Affolder explained. “I think that threw him off; that’s never happened this year. I was feeling good.”

The lead didn’t last as the Syracuse-bound and senior Noah used a strong finish to distance himself from Sam and the pack to win in 15 minutes, 28.2 seconds.

Sam finished runner-up in 15:36.6, while Patrick O’Brien of Oyster River (NH) and son of Van Cortlandt Park record holder Cathy Schiro O’Brien, placed third (15:37.2).

“He (Noah) just got lucky today, he was stronger than me,” Sam Affolder said.

Noah said the game plan today was try and stay with the pack until about the 800-meter mark. But that changed. Noah

Despite the competitiveness on the course, the Carlisle duo are excited about the rare and special opportunity to race at Foot Locker Nationals in San Diego together. 

“I dreamed of my little brother running at nationals with me, and now it’s finally true,” Noah Affolder said. “I was hoping he’d get top 10, and second place is even better.”

Sam, a sophomore, is the youngest from the northeast region to qualify for nationals.

“It’s been years in the making,” he said. “Seeing Noah achieve it last year, really made me open up and know that is something that is accomplishable. I just felt good and I took away from the pack and never looked.”

Despite the cold and some stomach cramps, Noah battled through to win his second straight title.

“It’s really special,” he said. “I know there’s only a few people in the 38 years to do it. To win two out the 38 that’s pretty special, but we still have one more.”

New Jersey Meet of Champions winner Elliot Gindi of Ocean Township placed fourth (15:40.4) and fellow Pennsylvanian Dalton Hengst of York (and McDonogh School MD) was fifth (15:44.5).

Mainland's Aldridge wins title, earns trip back to San Diego

Heading into Saturday’s Foot Locker Northeast Regional race, Mainland Regionals (NJ) Alyssa Aldridge wasn’t too sure what to expect. And that was just fine with the junior.

“I was really excited to come in here and race some really good girls,” Aldridge said. “I’ve been “banned” from the Internet, so I wasn't really sure what I was going to be getting into.”

All Aldridge did was jump into the lead and continue to push the pace the entire 3.1 miles at Van Cortland Park. Aldridge won the title easily in 17:40.3. Runner-up was Jackie Gaughan of Exeter, NH in 17:55.2.

“I found myself in the lead at the beginning, and I just kind of rolled with it. I just tried to push it the entire time,” she said.

Aldridge, who won the New Jersey Meet of Champions last week for the second straight year, finished sixth a year ago at Foot Locker regionals. She explained mental issues plagued her earlier this fall, but recently, with some solid races, and limited distractions, she’s been able to focus on herself and what she needs to do.

“If you would have told me this two months ago, a month ago I would have never believed you,” she said of winning. “I’m so happy.”

On hand to witness her victory was a good-sized crowd that made the two-plus hour trek from Linwood.

“It was so amazing to have them here to keep my mind off the race,” she said. “They are the best.”

For second-place finisher Gaughan, the goal of Saturday was to get a top 10 spot. She easily accomplished that and more.

The New England Champion not only secured her first Foot Locker National ticket, but improved on her time and placement from a year ago. In 2015, she finished 34th (19:18.1).

“I’m psyched,” Gaughan said. “I just wanted to get a top 10 spot. It went out really fast, faster than what I was expecting, that was a little uncomfortable, but I tried to just settle in with the chase pack.”

Maria Coffin of Annapolis, MD was third 17:59.8, Grace Connolly of Natick, MA was fourth (18:01.9) and Page Lester of Washington DC was fifth (18:04.7).