Fresh off winning the Sherburne Invitational last Friday in what head coach Connie Herzig described as a complete surprise, the Cooperstown girls track team will look to continue their momentum when they host the Center State Conference league meet Saturday morning.

The Redskins edged second place Oneonta by two points at Sherburne, keyed by a number of season best performances.

"We had personal bests and season best times all over the place," Herzig said. "We only won two events, but we were able to eke out a win by piling up second through sixth place finishes."

Cooperstown will need a similar performance Saturday if they are to capture the Center State Conference crown. Herzig said Sauquoit is the favorite to win the league on the girls side, and that her team would need a great performance and hope Sauquoit does not have a great meet.

"Right now, we're doing what we need to be doing as a team," Herzig said. "We don't have one or two people who can carry us, so for us to do well we need a total team effort. I'm happy to report we've been getting just that."

Stephanie Smith won the pole vault and Elise Wilhelm the discus for Cooperstown's only first place finishes in the Sherburne Invitational.

Smith also finished second to Oneonta's Toni McDaniels in the high jump, and second in the 400 despite slipping and falling at the start.

"We also have one of the best hurdling combinations in the league in Sarah Child and Carolyn Clarvoe," Herzig added. Child took second in the 100 hurdles and third in the 400 hurdles, while Clarvoe was second in the 400 hurdles and third in the 100 hurdles. Herzig said the 400 relay team also had a season best in finishing third.

Herzig said she has seen a marked improvement in the girls competition in the Center State Conference in the last few seasons.

"There is so much parity in the league right now, and I think that's a credit to the coaches and athletes," Herzig said. "It used to be you could take a top six finish with a so-so time, but not anymore. You have to work hard for every place now. The athletes are competing at a much higher level."

CCS boys also look for team effort

As the Cooperstown boys track prepares to host the Center State Conference league meet this Saturday, longtime head coach Don Howard is starting to see his team round into top form.

The Redskins took second place in the Sherburne Invitational last Friday, ifnishing just one point behind first place Oneonta but, more importantly, 33 points ahead of CSC power Mt. Markham.

Mt. Markham, along with Sauquoit and Cooperstown, figure to battle for the top three spots in the league meet Saturday.

"It's really too close to call," Howard said. "I'm expecting a lot of great races and I think we have a decent shot to win. Every point is going to count."

Howard said three races in particular will be important in determining whether the Redskins can win their first league title since 1997-the 800, 1600 and 3200.

"We can't beat Mt. Markham in the 800 and 1,600, but we have to beat Sauquoit and it's going to be close," Howard said. "We've been in a lot of close races this season, and maybe it's our turn to win some of them."

Howard as reason for optimism in the 3200, as Evan Guiney pulled off a career-best on Friday to finish second. His time of 10:12.9 was his best effort by far, and Howard said Guiney's performance was the surprise effort of the meet.

"He almost won the race," Howard said. "It's hard to point out individuals because everyone on the track for us on Friday did well. I hope we can repeat that on Saturday."

Notes: Howard said Mike Senchyshyn, who has been nursing an injury, is getting close to 100 percent healthy, and is working his way back into form in the long jump and triple jump...The last time the Cooperstown boys won the league was in 1997, also the last time they hosted the meet. Mt. Markham is the defending CSC champion, while Sauquoit won in 1998 and '99.