By DEANNA CLARK
Assistant Sports Editor
TISS Pirates long-distance runners Matt Leeder and Charlotte Larry are gold-medal champions in two of the biggest races of their lives.
The TISS Pirates raced for gold Saturday at the Manhattan Invitational, the largest cross-country meet in North America. More than 11,000 athletes from 365 schools and 18 states competed. TISS was the only school from Canada to compete.
"I was giving it everything I had," Leeder said of how he sprinted to the finish line in the four-kilometre boys varsity race for the win.
"I felt really good," said Leeder, adding he started the race running in a small pack but after one kilometre began pulling ahead. "When I was 15-20 metres ahead I thought I could make it."
The 15-year-old Leeder crossed the finish line a full six seconds ahead of New Jersey star runner Craig Forys. Leeder competed against some of the top runners from Maine to Florida, some of whom were three years older than the Brockville runner.
There were a total of 280 teams and 2,000 runners in the boys varsity division.
"That's Matt Leeder's biggest race," TISS coach Randy Givogue said of the New York City meet.
Leeder, the son of Diane and Ray Leeder, was second overall with a time of 12:40.82. Justin Harbor, of Flagher Palm Coast, Florida was first overall in a time of 12:34.5.
The TISS varsity boys team was third in a field of over 40 schools. Jacob Smith was 13th in a field of 310 and Geoff Millard was 20th. Placing first was Liverpool, New York with 67 points followed by Queensbury, New York , with 85 points. TISS had 90 points.
Pirates' Charlotte Larry, also 15, led the TISS sophomore girls team to a gold medal.
"It was an amazing day," added Larry, the daughter of Pat and Eira Larry.
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Larry placed first overall in a race against approximately 400 participants and 80 teams.
She finished with a time of 16:42.3. Other TISS girls in the top 20 were Jessica Grubb, who was fifth, Carley Fox, who was 10th, Katie Lirette, taking the 13th spot, and Sonia Szeto,18th. With so many finishing well the TISS girls easily captured the overall gold medal with a total of 43 points.
"Everything was amazing. It was that kind of day," said Larry.
"It was, thinking, this is New York City and I get to run in one of the most prestigious parks, and then to win. It felt really good," she said.
Larry kept pace with three other runners during the first kilometre. She then pulled ahead and maintained a lead for most of the race. When she realized a runner was gaining on her she pulled out all the stops, she said.
"When she was about 10 metres behind I decided I needed to do it for the team," said Larry.
She ended with a seven-second lead.
"It was an amazing team win. It was a great opportunity for our coaches to let us run in New York City," she said.
In second place in the girls sophomore division was the Shaker, New York, team. New York's Shenendehowa team was third with 165 points.
"There fields are so large," Givogue said. "It was great cultural as well as athletic experience."
Weather conditions, however, were tough, according to Givogue. Winds reached up to 60 kilometres per hour. Heavy rain persisted throughout the day, making for a muddy, puddle-filled course.
"It rained and rained, and just when you thought the wind couldn't get any worse, it got a lot worse," Givogue said. "It was a day that most NY coaches say was one of the worst days ever for a meet and the worst Manhattan has seen since the mid 1970's."
TISS took 75 athletes to the meet.