Sachem North's Jonathan Lauer and Christopher Tibbetts run well at states

The Monroe-Woodbury High School 5-kilometer course's reputation precedes it. It's widely known as one of the toughest to run in the entire state.

So . . . is it? The reviews are in.

"I agree 1,000 percent," said Sachem North's Jonathan Lauer after placing seventh in 16 minutes, 14.4 seconds in the state public schools Class A boys cross-country championships Saturday.

Oyster Bay's Alex Tosi knows the difficult course well. The senior ran it in mid-September at the Crusader Classic Pre-State Invitational. And, much like he did in that meet, Tosi used the course's four hills to his advantage Saturday and orchestrated a second-place finish in the Class C championship. Tosi ran a 16:28.8. East Aurora's Kenny Vasbinder won in 15:52.2.

"It was very helpful," Tosi said of the experience gained from the invitational. "I knew when I needed to speed up, how many hills I had, when to go, and when not to go. I think some other guys might not have known. Some guys might have gone at the third hill, not knowing that their was another hill and that might have hurt them."

While those hills have destroyed the race of many a valiant runner, Tosi credited his work on them as a major reason he went home with the runner-up distinction.

"Some people can't recuperate from hills," Tosi said. "I think I recuperate pretty well. While people are still getting tired, I still have a lot of energy."

Lauer's teammate, and the other half of the Flaming Arrows' terrific twosome, Christopher Tibbetts, finished sixth in 16:12.4 -- one spot before his friend in the Class A race. Sachem North was not in the team competition.

"He out-kicked me in the final stretch and finished great," Lauer said. "I'm really proud of him."

As veterans of Sunken Meadow State Park, another course known for its punishing hills, the two were able to navigate the course's many inclines expertly.

"You have to take the hills a lot slower," Lauer said. "Most kids rush up the hill. They're not thinking about it, it's second nature. But it takes a really big toll on your legs and it will end up making your time slower. You can gain five seconds on someone on a hill. But if you work the straightaways, you can gain 10-15 [seconds]."

Lauer and Tibbetts are as much a team as any other two runners on Long Island. They finished first and second at both the Suffolk Division I championship and the Suffolk state qualifier.

"We worked the first hill and Jon and I were able to get in a very good position in the first mile," Tibbetts said. "We could see where we had to go, maneuver around the mud, push the hills, and work the straightaways."

East Hampton's Erik Engstrom finished eighth in the Class B race, running a 16:41.4.

When all the classes were merged, Sachem East was the highest Long Island finisher in the team competition, finishing ninth.