Great Day For Greenwich Runner At Cross Country State Open

MANCHESTER, CT — What a difference six days, a stiff wind and ankle-deep mud can make to a high school cross country runner. More than 380 student-athletes tested the "Green Monster" at Wickham Park in Manchester Friday at the CIAC State Open cross country championships, and one result surprised a lot of people.

On Oct. 26, the state class championships had been held at the same demanding 3.1 course, with Kate Wiser of Pomperaug setting a new course and Class L record by finishing in 17 minutes, 39 seconds - a whopping 85 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. In the Class LL girls race, Mari Noble of Greenwich also prevailed handily, posting a time of 18:30 to best Kate Hedlund of Manchester by 28 seconds.

All expectations were a 1-2 finish by the juniors, which is exactly what happened - except in reverse order. Noble hung with Wiser the entire distance and pulled away from her in the final half-mile, winning the title with a time of 18:13. Wiser crossed the finish line 10 seconds later in 18:23, a full 44 seconds off her previous week's record pace.

A similar scenario was anticipated in the boys race, with Gavin Sherry of Conard posting last week's fastest time of 15:24 in winning the Class LL individual title. Robbie Cozean of Xavier captured the Class L crown, finishing in 15:30.

The duel between the two was as advertised, with the duo trading the lead in the final 300 meters before Sherry exploded up the final hill to win in 15 minutes, 38 seconds, six seconds ahead of Cozean.

Team titles were won by the Hall High School girls with 110 points, outdistancing runner-up Simsbury's 136, and the Tolland boys, who outpointed Conard by a 71-87 margin.

The top two teams in each division, as well as the top 25 individual finishers, advance to the New England High School Cross Country Championships, scheduled for Wickham Park on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Here are the top teams and individuals from each race. Click the division headers for complete results.

GIRLS

Teams

1. Hall, 110
2. Simsbury, 136
3. Trumbull, 155
4. New Canaan, 173
5. Danbury, 191

Individuals

1. Mari Noble, Greenwich, 18:13
2. Kate Wiser, Pomperaug, 18:23
3. Kate Hedlund, Manchester, 18:48
4. Ava Graham, Bethel, 18:54
5. Daniella Grullon Pena, Danbury, 19:07
6. Claire Daniels, New Milford, 19:07
7. Kathryn Rodrigues, Wolcott, 19:11
8. Amanda Derway, Simsbury, 19:18
9. Alessandra Zaffina, Trumbull, 19:18
10. Mairead Clas, Darien, 19:24
11. Jenna Zydanowicz, Hall, 19:25
12. Kylie Raymond, Somers, 19:29
13. Nora Holmes, Hall, 19:36
14. Tess Pisanelli, Ridgefield, 19:36
15. Julia Caputo, Canton, 19:39
16. Ailene Doherty, Immaculate, 19:42
17. Molly Murphy, New Canaan, 19:42
18. Katherine Sanderson, Hall, 19:42
19. Emily Brydges, Suffield, 19:46
20. Elizabeth Stockma, Rocky Hill, 19:48
21. Dagny Edwards, Simsbury, 19:48
22. Jacqueline Izzo, Southington, 19:49
23. Rhiannon Richmond, Avon, 19:50
24. Kayla Ondy, Immaculate, 19:52
25. Grace Michaud, Southington, 19:59

BOYS

Teams

1. Tolland, 71
2. Conard, 87
3. Ridgefield, 181
4. Danbury, 206
5. Staples, 209

Individuals

1. Gavin Sherry, Conard, 15:38
2. Robbie Cozean, Xavier, 15:44
3. Alec Sauter, Tolland, 16:11
4. Nicholas Bendtsen, Wolcott, 16:14
5. Morgan Fierro, Staples, 16:24
6. Jacob Smith, Glastonbury, 16:26
7. Jackson Cayward, Tolland, 16:28
8. Jack Olender, Ellington, 16:30
9. Callum Sherry, Conard, 16:33
10. Owen Wollenberg, Simsbury, 16:34
11. Chris Deforest, Terryville, 16:34
12. Charles Namiot, Ridgefield, 16:35
13. Gregory Vogt, Fairfield Warde, 16:36
14. Jack Watson, Danbury, 16:36
15. Nate Deangelo, Bristol Central, 16:36
16. Jackson Grady, Hall, 16:36
17. Brendan Mellitt, Cheshire, 16:36
18. Patrick Gibbons, New Fairfield, 16:37
19. Trey Generali, Pomperaug, 16:38
20. Dan White, Enfield, 16:39
21. Colin McLaughlin, Westhill, 16:40
22. Matt Jennings, Haddam-Killingworth, 16:40
23. Michael Bohlke, Newington, 16:41
24. Alexander Bein, Greenwich, 16:41
25. Mark Rodriguez, Cromwell, 16:44