By Frank Rizzo
GRAHAMSVILLE — December 1, 2000 – Tri-Valley’s cross country season is always longer than any other county school’s, and for its top runner, Heather Iatauro, fall 2000 will end this Saturday at the AAU National Age Group Championships in Joplin, Missouri.
After her victory in the Class D race at the state meet November 11, Iatauro has raced in each of the last two weekends.
On November 19 she placed 21st in the New York State Federation Meet, held at Bowdoin Park in Poughkeepsie. Her course p.r. time of 19:16.0 was the best among Section IX runners and third best among freshmen. It also ranked her behind 1994 T-V grad Kate Landau on the all-time school list for that course.
Senior Nicole Boykin of White Plains won the 5K race with a time of 18:22. The top freshman was Amanda Meyer of Saratoga Springs (18:40.7). Saratoga, a Class A power from the Albany area, won both the boys’ and girls’ team titles, an unprecedented feat.
A week later Iatauro placed 40th in the Foot Locker Regional Championships, held at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx. Her time of 19:15 beat her previous 5K mark on the course by 25 seconds. It was also the third best freshman time of the day.
Natasha Roettner of Lexington, Mass., a junior, was the winner in 17:58.2. Michelle Wale of Pine Bush had the top Section IX time, placing eighth with an 18:31.6.
Joining Heather in this weekend’s AAU races will be Steve Creek, Brenton Smith, Travis Wolfe, Jeremy Mathsen, Josh Mattingly, Don Curry, Derek Smith, Jon Huppke, Erin Paul, and Nicole Orr.
On Tuesday: more results and photos.