Stratford Boys Cross Country 6 Appear At SWC Championships

On Friday October 18th, after two days of cancellations due to a nor’easter labeled as the “bomb-cyclone”, the Southwest Conference presented the 2019 Cross Country Championships on the grounds of Bethel High School, at the historic Mark Goodwin cross country course.
The “ bomb-cyclone” left some soggy areas, but the Bethel Public Works Department tended to the grounds, making a previous storm related treacherous course clean of debris and the footing stable.
To most, the course appears to be a vision of magnificence, as the backdrop view from the bleachers of fall colored trees and hilltops, with a glistening sun, provides stunning pictures.
To the runners, a different opinion comes into play as the course is multi-surfaced with it's stadium grass like feature, areas of asphalt, and it's trail terrain of changing ground angles. All of which lead up to a one-half mile long steep hill known by many as " the beast" at nearly the mile and three quarter mark. Even the elitist of runners struggle with their times.
On this brisk partly sunny fall afternoon, with a temperature in the lower 50’s, a boisterous crowd lined the course to cheer on their favorite schools in this fourteen team event. Each team would put it's seven best runners, the most allowed by rule, into the varsity race.
For the Stratford High boys to challenge it would need to fill in a gap in the third spot as Tyler Ciufo was a last minute scratch due to a recurring injury.
Joshua Kydes, enjoying a breakout season in cross country, would have to overachieve in order for Stratford to compete in team play.
Elijah Brown, now considered a league top runner, needed to have his best top time of the year.
Paul Duncanson, battling a midsection season long ailment, had to step into the third slot.
Freshman Amos Colocho has been impressive as the season moves along, had to move up to the four hole leaving fellow freshman Ryan Munoz and newcomer Drilon Nusafi to challenge each other for Stratford’s fifth spot.
Looking at the field of 97, in a statewide cross country dominating conference, Stratford faced a tall task.

Going in, the New Milford Green Wave and the Immaculate Mustangs were the heavy favorites. Right up there with the top teams are the Pomperaug Panthers.

Stratford was placed in the thirteenth box along the starting rail. As head race official Gene Waring sounded the opening blast, the race saw Brown bust out of the box in the top place. He was eventually surrounded by the leagues top athletes.
At the one mile mark, the five lead runners, each from different schools, stayed with in inches of each other.
New Fairfield’s Patrick Gibbons was holding his own with Immaculate’s James Sullivan, New Milford’s Robert Harkin, Brookfield’s Jadon Parris, and Pomperaug’s Trey Generali.
Meanwhile the majority of the field, now running in a cluster, ran at a 19:30 and under pace.
In the mix of that was Stratford’s Kydes.
As the race leaders finished the grueling “beast” it was clear that Pomeraug’s Generali opened up a several second lead.
Green Wave’s Harkin and Mustang’s Sullivan battled for second. Both were going down the stretch matching strides.
Generali took first place in a time of 16:39
Harkin surged ahead of Sullivan for second place at 16:46. Sullivan third at 16:47.
Brookfield’s Jadon Parris in fourth at 16:54
Fifth went to Gibbons at 16:57.
Kydes went on to finish at 19:10
Brown, struggling with cramps, managed to come in at 19:47.
Duncanson came in at 21:40.
Colocho with a remarkable time of 22:47.
Munoz at 26:45, and Nusafi at 28:52.
The Green Wave, with four racers in the top fifteen and their fifth runner Jesse Meadows III coming in at 18:16, claimed the 2019 SWC Championship.
Up next for Stratford, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Championships from Wickham Park in Manchester, Ct, on Saturday October 26th, at 1:35pm.