A stop watch in his right hand, Smeraldo took a knee to show his buddy the time he posted a third of the way through the course on the city’s southside.

The clocking was impressive.

Very much so.

“I’m excited,” Red Raiders coach Steve Sipior said. “Today, Drew ran his race and really he dared people to try and go with him.”

OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg Above are the top five girls finishers in the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association All-Star Race on Saturday at Martin Road Complex. From the left are Ava Crist of Maple Grove, fourth; Acacia Barber, Frewsburg, second; Angelina Napoleon of Allegany-Limestone, first; Christina Peppy of Maple Grove, third; and Marie Lemay of Falconer/Cassadaga VAlley, fifth.

The strategy worked to perfection.

Carlson was clocked in 5 minutes, 2 seconds in the first mile on his way to a 16:44 over the 3.1-mile layout. That performance broke his old course record, set earlier this season, by five seconds, helping him to a first-place finish on an unseasonably warm, 72-degree day.

Lukas Baer of Maple Grove finished second (16:52); Ryan Wisniewski of Allegany-Limestone was third (17:05); Nate Lewis of Southwestern was fourth (17:11); and Joe Krenzer of Falconer/Cassadaga Valley was fifth (17:13).

Meanwhile, in the girls race, Angelina Napoleon of Allegany-Limestone breezed to the finish line, posting a time of 19:41. Acacia Barber of Frewsburg was second (20:11); Christina Peppy of Maple Grove was third (20:32); Ava Crist of Maple Grove was fourth (20:53); and Marie Lemay of Falconer/Cassadaga Valley was fifth (21:20).

The all-star race came a week after the CCAA Championships, which were held at Bemus Point Golf Club and Tap House. Due to COVID-19, the races that day were held in three separate waves of runners, which meant the best were not able to participate in the same heats, leaving some question as to who was truly at the top of the heap.

There was little doubt after Saturday’s performances.

Carlson and Napoleon, a sophomore, led their respective races from start to finish, just as they did last week, capping what has been quite a season — albeit truncated because of the safety protocols — for both runners.

Ironically, Carlson hadn’t planned to run Saturday, but reversed course during practice on Friday afternoon when it was learned that Gov. Andrew Cuomo may be issuing shutdown orders for certain areas in Western New York. That means the Section VI Championships, scheduled in Bemus Point this Saturday and Sunday, could be in jeopardy.

With no guarantees, Carlson didn’t hesitate to change his initial plans, coming away with an eight-second victory over the fast-charging Baer.

“It was nice to run it and win,” Carlson said.

Napoleon wasn’t truly challenged, posting a 30-second win over Barber.

“These conditions are not what we’re used to,” Napoleon said. “Last week we were running in snow. … It’s just amazing that everyone completed the race. … This is what I’ve trained for since March.”

For Falconer/Cassadaga Valley coach Dave Nelson, just getting the runners to have another opportunity was the most important thing.

“There were some coaches who were concerned, because they were thinking of kids saving themselves for sectionals,” he said, “and my philosophy was let the kids and coaches decide. Just remember each day we run is a bonus.”

For Carlson and Napoleon it was a special bonus indeed.

GIRLS

1. Angelina Napoleon (Allegany-Limestone), 19:41; 2. Acacia Barber (Frewsburg), 20:11; 3. Christina Peppy (Maple Grove), 20:32; 4. Ava Crist (Maple Grove), 20:53; 5. Marie Lemay (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley), 21:20; 6. Abby Brunenavs (Maple Grove), 21:40; 7. Tori Pavlock (Maple Grove), 21:43; 8. Mikaela LeBaron (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley), 21:53; 9. Teghan Trocki (Frewsburg), 22:03; 10. Tayden Persons (Clymer/Sherman/Panama), 22:04; 11. Allison Bohall (Maple Grove), 22:08; 12. Heather Madonia (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley), 22:15; 13. Tabby Clark (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley), 22:18; 14. Hannah Schauman (Clymer/Sherman/Panama), 22:21; 15. Evangeline Johnson (Clymer/Sherman/Panama), 22:38; 16. Hannah Tarbrake (Maple Grove), 22:46; 17. Grace Anderson (Southwestern), 22:51; 18. Ashlyn Collins (Allegany-Limestone), 23:00; 19. Leighanne Swan (Clymer/Sherman/Panama), 23:03; 20. Maddie Straub (Allegany-Limestone), 23:16; 21. Sydney Smith (Randolph), 23:20; 22. Kayla Forthmann (Gowanda), 23:20; 23. Gabrielle Wigren (Southwestern), 23:24; 24. Ashlyn Ambrose (Fredonia), 23:24; 25. Emma Pocabello (Cattaraugus-Little Valley); 26. Nya Martinelli (Olean); 27. Taryn Herman (Franklinville/Ellicottville), 24:04; 28. Alyson Canfield (Jamestown), 24:36; 29. Siera Jacques (Dunkirk), 24:36; 30. Melanie Wilson (Silver Creek/Forestville), 25:30.

BOYS

1. Drew Carlson (Jamestown), 16:44; 2. Lukas Baer (Maple Grove), 16:52; 3. Ryan Wisniewski (Allegany-Limestone), 17:05; 4. Nate Lewis (Southwestern), 17:11: 5. Joe Krenzer (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley), 17:13; 6. Ethan Luce (Southwestern), 17:16; 7. Joey Pillittieri (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley), 17:23; 8. Daniel Casey (Allegany-Limestone), 17:28; 9. Carter McKotch (Southwestern), 17:31; 10. Kohl Carpenter (Allegany-Limestone), 17:34; 11. Donald Higgs (Allegany-Limestone), 17:46; 12. Talon Rowland (Randolph), 17:53; 13. Devin Austin (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley), 18:07; 14. Cayden Hatch (Franklinville/Ellicottville), 18:21; 15. Adam Lesch (Fredonia), 18:13; 16. Tavi Riling (Franklinville/Ellicottville), 18:21; 17. Trenton Shutters (Southwestern), 18:28; 18. Colton Cappalino (Jamestown), 18:35; 19. Toby Gifford (Frewsburg), 18:39; 20. John Visnesky (Cattaraugus-Little Valley), 18:54; 21. John Brockelbank (Falconer/Cassadaga Valley), 19:02; 22. Jaden Kinnear (Southwestern), 19:03; Alex Redeye (Allegany-Limestone), 19:21; 24. Zachary Zentz (Dunkirk), 21:34.