The Saranac Lake boys, fresh off an undefeated season capped by a Class C state championship last year, took the first three slots on their home course Tuesday.

Lake Placid, with returning runners at the helm, had a strong showing as well. On the girls side, Harley Cohen, who attends Keene Central and runs for the Blue Bombers, claimed the top spot but was followed by a strong Red Storm squad.

Saranac Lake’s James Catania was the first across the line in the boys race, clocking a finish time of 16 minutes, 28 seconds. He was followed by teammates Peter Fogarty (16:30) and Andrew Fogarty in third. Lake Placid’s Mike Skutt (17:23) took fourth and the Red Storm’s Micah McCulley was fifth in 17:29.

Cohen paced the girls with a time of 21:40, and was followed by Plattsburgh’s Nora Graves (22:07) in second and Saranac Lake’s Gwen Mader (22:29) placed third. Saranac Lake runners Sylvie Linck (22:34) and Katie Samperi (22:59) finished fourth and fifth.

Keene Central School eighth-grader Harley Cohen, competing for Lake Placid, crosses the finish line in first place at the season-opening meet at Dewey Mountain in Saranac Lake on Tuesday. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

In team scoring, the Red Storm boys topped Lake Placid, Beekmantown and Plattsburgh, while Lake Placid also scored better than Beekmantown and the Hornets. The Saranac Lake girls also topped the three visitors, while the Blue Bombers earned wins over Plattsburgh and Beekmantown.

Saranac Lake coach Bill Peer, even with his boys team in the hunt for another state championship, is bullish on the girls as well.

“The kids were just chomping at the bit,” Peer said. “It brings that girls team into focus a bit for us, and the guys as well. It’s a good start.

“Plattsburgh is better than they were last year, so it’s not going to be a coronation. I said to our other coach, ‘We’re going to have to work for it.’ And that’s what you want, so we’re excited.”

Blue Bombers coach Mel Frazer said her kids placed about where she expected them to.

Saranac Lake’s Gwen Mader, right, and Katie Samperi run in Tuesday’s season-opening meet at Dewey Mountain in Saranac Lake. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

“It went kind of as planned,” she said. “Harley’s win was fun. We knew it was possible, but we didn’t know how she compared to some of the Saranac Lake girls, so that was a good start to the season.

“The boys team is looking good. Mikey (Skutt) was where we wanted him to be, Max (Flanigan) is coming in good. I think Mikey will continue to be up top and then the other boys will fill the other gaps. They did good; it was a good first race.”

Both teams will compete in another four-way meet next Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Ticonderoga.