New York High School Wins 6th Straight XC Title

Two teammates sprinted toward the finish line at the Rockland County Cross-Country Championships, separated by less than a second, but united in making history together.

North Rockland High School won its sixth consecutive boys team title at the championship meet, breaking a record that stood for 121 years. Junior Cooper Cataldi edged senior teammate James McCarron by just eight-tenths of a second, finishing the three-mile course in 15:33.2.

The Red Raiders placed four runners in the top eight, beating second-place Nanuet by 18 points. The race took place at Darlington Park in New Jersey because construction closed the traditional venue at Bear Mountain State Park.

McCarron and Cataldi have run together for seven years, and that trust showed on race day. "I knew if me and him stayed in the front, eventually the rest of the pack would die down," McCarron said. The two created separation from other runners at the two-and-a-half mile mark and never looked back.

The course itself presented unique challenges, including a sandy beach section that made runners feel like they were swimming. But the team came prepared, knowing history was within reach.

Why This Inspires

This story proves that sustained excellence comes from more than individual talent. McCarron smiled when talking about his teammate's victory, saying "I'm not even mad about it." That kind of selfless teamwork, built over years of training together, is what turns good teams into record-breaking ones.

The Red Raiders aren't done yet. They're now setting their sights on the Section 1 Class A boys team title, which would qualify them for the state championships.

Six years of dedication, eight teammates running as one, and 121 years of history rewritten in a finish decided by less than a second.