By John Torenli
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Who’s the fastest kid in the neighborhood?

It’s an age-old question among Brooklyn youths racing down the block, across the schoolyard, or in the case of Packer Collegiate’s Eddie Owens and Brooklyn Friends’ Kieran Newcomb, on the cross-country course at Bowdoin Park in Wappinger’s Falls, N.Y. on Nov. 21.

Owens and Newcomb were rewarded for their strong showings at last Sunday’s New York State Association of Independent Schools Cross Country Championships at Van Cortlandt Park, earning invites to the upcoming New York State Federation Cross Country Championships.

Owens topped a field of 104 runners, including Newcomb who finished fifth overall, during last weekend’s Independent Schools Finals.

The Pelicans’ junior track star broke the tape at just over 19 minutes and two seconds for first place, edging Collegiate’s William Wheeler, who finished eight seconds back.

It’s been a season of firsts for Owens, who also captured titles at the Big Red Invitational, Dwight Invitational, ACIS (Athletic Conference of Independent Schools) Championships, PSAA (Private School Athletic Association) Championships and Section I Coaches Invitational during his inaugural campaign on the Packer squad.

“When my coach, Rob Martin, asked me at the beginning of the season what my goals were, I told him I wanted to go undefeated all season,� Owens said. “With [the NYSAISS win], I have gone unbeaten in every private school meet this season. I owe a lot to my coach and my teammates for helping me achieve my goal.�

Newcomb, also a junior and one of the top distance runners in the city, took second at last month’s ACIS Championships behind Owens. He hopes to catch his neighborhood rival next week with an overall state title on the line.

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