Four local runners will be competing in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championships at SUNY Plattsburgh Saturday.

Auburn will be sending the only local girl, junior Kim Lupo, along with Auburn junior Pat Lattimore, Skaneateles senior Calvin Davis and Jordan-Elbridge senior Mike Marrero.

Lattimore finished second overall (17:27.4) at the Section III, Class A championships after a strong season leading the Maroons. Lupo, on the other hand, was a surprise for Auburn, finishing better than she had all season, taking seventh (22:17.6) at sectionals.

“We hadn't actually expected her to qualify,” Auburn coach Laureen O'Connor said. “She has been running pretty strongly and coming up slowly but it was still somewhat of a shock. Part of it may have been that she didn't feel any pressure to qualify so she ran better without that pressure on her.”

This is only Lupo's second year running, starting as a freshman under O'Connor before skipping her sophomore season.

“We have a lot of young runners on the team who are looking really good,” O'Connor said. “She has been pushing herself throughout the season in a kind of understated way. Even though it is unexpected, she deserves this. She has been running with the top runners most of the season.”

Showing her humility and support for her teammates, O'Connor said that Lupo didn't celebrate right away after qualifying. She immediately felt badly for her fellow teammates who wouldn't be making the trip with her.

“She never brags,” O'Connor said. “I think this proved to her what she can really do when she wants to and puts her mind to it. I just want her to have a good run at states and a positive experience. A personal best would be great, but either way I know she will do her best there.”

In Class C, a familiar name will not be competing for the state title as he had hoped.

Jordan-Elbridge's Cody Stanton has an upper respiratory infection that has been hampering him for a while and cost him a chance at a second consecutive state championship visit.

But the Eagles will send Marrero to his second straight state championship meet after he finished fourth overall (16:57.9) and is ranked eighth in the state for Class C.

“He has been very consistent this season,” Jordan-Elbridge coach Roger Roman said. “I think he can finish in the top five or better, that is what we are hoping for anyway.”

Marrero finished 13th last year at the NYSPHSAA meet and knows that he has what it takes to run with the top runners in the class.

One of those runners he will be competing against is Davis, who finished just ahead of Marrero at sectionals, taking third (16:50.7). Going into the meet ranked 12th in the state, Davis is aiming for a top-10 finish.

“He looks really good right now,” Skaneateles coach Jack Reed said. “He surprised everyone with the third-place finish. I knew he could do it but you never know with all the variables you face. We were just hoping he would qualify and he was masterful. As long as he stays healthy, I think he will do just fine. He has worked at this for six years, the state championships have always been the focus and he deserves to be there.”

As to where Davis himself thinks he can finish, Reed is unsure of Davis' personal goals.

“He is very quiet about those things,” Reed said. “I am not sure what his goal is but I know that he is confident that he can do well.”