The showcase was a replacement for the normal New York state championship meet which, like all NYSPHSAA events, was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Being held at Rondout Valley High School in Accord just south of the Catskills, the meet featured top athletes from all northeastern states and all school sizes. Three divisions were created: The championship division featured the top athletes, the freshman/sophomore division was made for top underclassman, and the open division was open to anyone who did not qualify for the other divisions.

The Saranac Lake team was led by Peter Fogarty, who placed fifth in the 2-mile championships with a school-record time of 9:16.84, which converts to a 3,200-meter time of 9:13.61. The previous school record was set by Adam Van Nortwick in 2002 with a time of 9:23.76.

This is the third record Fogarty has broken this season. This time qualified him for the national meet; however, he is electing not to run the 2-mile event to focus on the steeplechase. He also competed in the mile run, placing 20th in the championship division with a time of 4:33.86.

The Red Storm 4×800-meter relay team broke the school record and tied the Section VII record earlier this year, but the senior quartet wanted to be the lone sectional record holder — and they achieved that at the New York State Showcase. James Catania, Peter Fogarty, Andrew Fogarty and Micah McCulley broke their own record with a time of 7:58.23, 10 seconds faster than their previous time. Everyone on the squad hit a personal record as they placed fifth in the championship division.

Micah McCulley, right, runs in the 4x800 relay, in which his Saranac Lake team placed fifth and broke another school and Section VII record Saturday at the New York State Showcase meet. (Provided photos — Jaime Fogarty)

The showcase marked the final event where the all-senior group would compete as one.

“We have been running together for two seasons a year for four years, so it was an awesome way to end, it but it’s sad that it’s the end,” said Peter Fogarty.

“We aren’t done breaking records yet,” said James Catania, “Micah McCulley and I hope to break two more this week.” McCulley and Catania will be competing in the East Coast Championships Wednesday and Thursday runnung in the 800 meter and 1,600 meter races in Edison New Jersey.

Twins Peter and Andrew Fogarty will be continuing to the national meet. Both will compete in the steeplechase on July 3 in Eugene, Oregon, at the University of Oregon’s track facility, Hayward Field.

Andrew Fogarty competed in the 2,000 meter steeplechase as well. In the championships, He placed fourth with the time of 6:26.67. He already qualified for nationals in a previous meet; however, he would qualify with this time as well.

Saranac Lake High School track runners (from left) Sam Ash, James Catania, Andrew Fogarty, Peter Fogarty and Micah McCulley smile at the New York State Showcase meet Saturday in Accord, just south of the Catskills. Ash competed in the freshman/sophmore division mile run, placing 10th, while the other four, all seniors, placed fifth in the 4x800 relay in the championship division, breaking a school and Section VII record along the way. (Provided photo — Jaime Fogarty)

Saranac Lake’s Mitchell Ellsworth won the freshman/sophmore division for the shotput, throwing 44-11.50, and placed fourth in discus, throwing 116-08.

Sam Ash competed in the freshman/sophmore division for the mile run where he placed 10th with a time of 4:54.17. Ash also competed in the 2-mile open, placing third in that division with a time of 10:03.68.