The New York State Public High School Athletic Association cross country championship races, held at Queensbury Union Free School District on Nov. 14, 2024, brought an estimated economic boost of more than $3.1 million to the region, according to the Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“Hosting the state cross country championships was an incredible honor for our district and community,” said Queensbury UFSD Superintendent of Schools Kyle Gannon. “We have a beautiful campus and trail system, and we are happy to host these events that boost the local economy.”
Queensbury UFSD will also host the 2025 Section 2 and NYSPHSAA championship races on the same 3.1-mile course this fall. The races will be held on Queensbury’s mixed-surface 5,000-meter course, which starts with an open field of 400 meters from the starting line to the entrance of the trail system. The course offers 555 meters of open field from the exit of the trails to the finish line.
The 21st annual Queensbury Adirondack Cross Country Classic Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, drew 3,600 runners from 137 teams to compete in 14 different races for boys and girls.
Teams from all 11 sections of New York State, including Buffalo and Long Island, as well as schools from Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire attended the annual event. Many runners participate in the Queensbury invitational meet as a preview of the upcoming sectional and state meets, said Athletic Director Richard Keys.
“The success of the event — and the $3.1 million economic impact it brought — shows how meaningful high school athletics can be, not just for students, but for our entire region,” Keys said.
At the invitational on Sept. 13, Shenendehowa senior Leyla Bhursi smashed the girls' course record with a time of 17:13.1, which surpassed Emily Bush's previous standard of 17:20.7 in 2023.
The Queensbury varsity squad placed sixth in the Division IV race. Senior Chris DiPlacido was the 14th to cross the finish line (16:32.5), followed by John Luthringer (17th place, 16:46.2), Kiernan Davidson (28th, 17:05.9), Josh Jenkin (55th, 17:42.5) and Alexander Goertzen (58th, 17:46.5).
Finley Purvis (53rd, 20:46.2) and Ruby Janssen (75th, 21:50.7) were the top harriers for the Spartan varsity girls, who finished 17th in Division IV.
Led by Colin Russell (31st), Wyatt Lee (43rd), Ben DelSignore (55th) and Timothy Portuese (56th), Queensbury's JV boys captured ninth
The freshmen girls and boys placed fifth and seventh in their respective races. Mia Verheyn, Mikailyn Capone, Sydney Miller and Harper Purvis were all in the top-40 for the girls, while Kragen Orleman, Sawyer Orleman and Alex DiPlacido took top-50 honors.
The Spartan modified teams were also impressive. With five runners in the top-35 — Kate Corlew (11th), Delia Strain (26th), Estelle Lefebre (31st), Lyla Montanye (32nd) and Olivia Bolton (35th) — the girls captured third in a field of 11 squads. Griffin Litwak (26th), Ryan Sannasardo (28th) and Brady Desjardin (37th) headlined for the boys, who placed fifth.