Mahopac Hits their Stride at Northern Counties Championships

On Saturday May 20, Mahopac traveled to Arlington High School, and raced the Northern Counties Championships. Getting most of the day in before the rain drops, Coach Kelley Posch still saw the skies open up for her team.

“There have been a lot of personal bests. I couldn’t be happier with the performances,” she said. “They ran with heart today. It’s a culmination of the workouts they’ve done throughout the season, and the hard work they’ve put in.”

Piper Klammer’s first place finish in the 400 meter (59.21) was among the proof. “I came out pretty strong and stuck with the same pace the whole time,” said the senior.

Coach Vin Collins made the explanation even simpler. “Whatever she has, she gives, and Piper runs like the person in front of her has a target on their back,” he said.

As the day went on, the tunnel vision continued unimpeded. “She won the 400 and came back to win the 800,” said Posch. “The girl just doesn’t quit. “Every time she goes out there, you know you’re going to get the most out of her. It’s been an absolute honor to coach her for the last five years.”

Of course, the admiration is mutual and extends to all the runners. “I love her as my coach and the whole team has become my family,” said Klammer, who will attend the College of Saint Rose to study Physical Education and Health.

Dylan Tyberg knows the feeling and fun has kept him in the family way too. Still, the senior did not sugarcoat a home stretch that yielded a third place finish in the 3200 meter (10:09.74). “It hurt a lot,” the long distance runner assured.

A back and forth the whole way with the bronze runner up, Tyberg was again succinct to sum up the outcome. “I passed him at the end,” he clarified.

Posch agreed. “Dylan had to close really hard and watching him on the home stretch was really awesome,” she said. “It was the culmination of a lot of work.”

Unfortunately, the time is short, but Posch relishes what the Tyberg name has meant to Mahopac. “The fifth year for him and his twin brother Ryan,” said the coach, “they consistently work every year and are having a breakout season.”

The regimen was good for a third place finish by Ryan Tyberg in the 1600 (4:34.10). In keeping, Brett Bergerson beamed double time in the 3200. “I’m a distance runner through and through,” asserted the senior.

She finished sixth (12:28.95) and did so knowing the end could be around every corner. “Because this is possibly the last time I’d run the 3200,” Bergerson said. “I was like, ‘give everything and don’t leave anything in the tank.’”

She wasn’t kidding. “By the time I got to the last 200 meters, I was gagging,” revealed Bergerson, who will attend McGill University and double major in Art and Science.

Even so, the Mahopac valedictorian thinks that the struggle at the end is the fun part. Maybe not so easy to understand, Bergerson brings us in nonetheless. “We have such a community,” she said. “So even though this is an individual sport, you’re never racing alone. We’re always running together.”

His pink bandana always tied in collegiality and good cheer, John Kelly might just be in charge of the sentiment. “I want to create a positive environment so we can have fun and run fast,” said the senior.

Off to Hartford University next year, Kelly took 13th in the 1600 (5:07.89) and the duality of the sport meant more than the wind was at his back. “You’re an individual competing with the help of your entire team,” said the Civil Engineering Major.

Still more to come, the prospects looked just right for Posch. “At this point in the season, we want them to be finding that next gear to close a race out, and I have seen that with each athlete,” she concluded. “That’s all a coach could ask for.”