SARANAC LAKE -- The Saranac Lake girls, unbeaten last season, picked up where they left off in Champlain Valley Athletic Conference cross country Friday while the PHS boys, regrouping after some big losses to graduation, opened defense of their title with a split.

Kendra Leonidas ran down Plattsburgh's Sophie Deshaies and Monique Arvisais-Anhalt over the last mile and a half to lead Saranac Lake to a sweep of PHS and AuSable Valley. Leonidas covered the 3.1-mile course in 21:27 with Deshaies nine seconds back and Arvisais-Anhalt, 11 seconds off the pace.

Saranac Lake captured the next four spots with Emily Kriwox, who transferred from Tupper Lake, fourth.

The PHS girls gained a split by beating AuSable Valley.

Persephone Turetsky, fifth in 22:28, was AuSable Valley's top runner.

Saranac Lake swept the boys' meet, taking PHS by five points and AuSable Valley 17-38. Greg Bowler was an impressive winner in 18:19 while Red Storm teammates Dyland Dawson and Alex Beideck also cracked the top four.

The PHS boys, who lost their top five runners off their championship team, started the season with eight freshmen and three sophomores on this year's roster. Sam Beguin, the lone senior among the Hornets, came in second Friday with a time of 19:13.

PHS managed to beat AuSable Valley for a split. Zach Hamilton, eighth in 20:43, was the Patriots' leading runner.

Boys

Saranac Lake 25, PHS 30

Saranac Lake 17, AuSable Valley 38

PHS 19, AuSable Valley 40

Top 15 runners

1, Greg Bowler (SL), 18:19. 2, Sam Beguin (PHS), 19:13. 3, Dylan Dawson (SL), 19:45. 4, Alex Beideck (SL), 19:51. 5, Tejinder Gill (PHS), 20:20. 6, Alastair Russell (PHS), 20:22. 7, Robert Woodland (SL), 20:35. 8, Zach Hamilton (AVC), 20:43. 9, Korey Devins (AVC), 20:43. 10, Robert Fout (PHS), 20:45. 11, Jeff Donlan (PHS), 20:51. 12, Bryan LaRoe (SL), 21:12. 13, Kurt Whitford (AVC), 21:17. 14, Kagan Trombley (PHS), 21:56. 15, Gus Rietsema (PHS), 22:02.

Girls