Leading off today: If this is what we have to look forward to in the upcoming cross country season, then summer can't end soon enough to suit me.

   Fayetteville-Manlius ran a torrid 8:46.98 to beat Garden City (8:47.90) in the girls 3,200 relay last night at the New Balance Nationals track and field meet in Greensboro, N.C. The times rank second and third on the all-time U.S. list a week after Garden City won in 8:49.88 at the NYSPHSAA championships in Vestal.

   The U.S. record of 8:43.12 was set by Greenbelt, Md., Roosevelt in 2008.

   Senior Molly Malone anchored in 2:08.08 for F-M, the four-time defending champion at the Nike Cross Nationals, after Hannah Luber (2:16.68), Katie Sischo (2:11.43), Mackenzie Carter (2:10.48) took their turns. Sischo pulled F-M up to third place, then Carter handed Malone the stick even with Garden City anchor Emily Menges.

   "We worked on finishing the race all week in practice," F-M coach Bill Aris told The Post-Standard. "Last week, at the state meet, Molly started her closing sprint too early. Tonight, she waited until the last 100 meters and just gave it everything she had coming down the home stretch."

   In the girls two-mile race, Foot Locker Cross Country and Nike Indoors Nationals champ Megan Goethals (10:01.16) of Rochester, Mich., fought off Cornwall junior Aisling Cuffe (10:02.49). Both kicked hard on the bell lap en route to PRs, as they moved to Nos. 2 and 3 on the all-time list (behind Elmira's Molly Huddle, 10:01.08 in 2002).

   By the way, the big moment of on the track came in the girls sprint medley relay, where Neptune, N.J., sophomore Ajee Wilson reportedly ran a frighteningly fast 2:00.6 anchor and made up a 75-meter deficit on the bell lap.

   In other girls highlights, Westbury's Marlene Ricketts finished second in the triple jump at 41-6.

   In boys action, Warwick Valley was one of six 3,200 relays to break 7:40 and placed second in 7:35.66 while Liverpool placed sixth despite a jaw-dropping 1:47.99

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anchor by sophomore Zavon Watkins. Monroe-Woodbury was second in the sprint medley.

   Minisink Valley's Alec Faldemeyer defended his title in the hammer throw with a mark of 240-8 for the No. 7 spot on the all-time U.S. list as a warmup for next week's Junior Nationals.

   Culver signs: Irondequoit switch-hitting shortstop Cito Culver, the first-round pick of the New York Yankees this month, has signed his first professional contract for a reported $940,000 bonus.

   “We are very excited to get Cito signed so quickly and get him out on the field to begin his development as a major-league prospect,” said Damon Oppenheimer, vice president of amateur scouting for the Yankees.    Culver's career could begin next week with Tampa of the Gulf Coast League, a short-season Class A league.

   DeSales at a crossroads: Geneva DeSales High may not reopen for the 2010-11 school year unless it can raise $450,000 this summer, according to reports.

   According to the Catholic Courier, Principal Gerald Macaluso and the school's trustees notified parents of financial issues in a letter dated May 31.

   "The $450,000 deficit jeopardizes the opening of our doors in September 2010," the letter stated. The school recently launched a fundraising campaign.

   With a decision expected by Aug. 1, several Finger Lakes football teams could be left scrambling to fill dates on the schedule.