Stratford And Bunnell Find A Way Amid A Quarantine Cancellation

On Tuesday November 3rd both the Stratford and Bunnell High School Cross Country Teams were scheduled to travel to Joel Barlow High School for a South West Conference 5K cross country matchup with the Falcons on their home course.

A mid-day call by the Joel Barlow athletic department to both local athletic departments here in town advised that Joel Barlow went into a two day Covid quarantine. Therefore, the original race slated for this afternoon was cancelled. It was the last regular season race for all schools.

Both Stratford and Bunnell teams decided to run an Election Day impromptu race at Stratford's home course Wooster Middle School. Before that could take place, several hurdles stood in the way, both school administrations, town officials, and even election officials had to approve such an event given the ferocity of Election Day 2020.

At 1:45 coaches and athletes were advised the plan was approved. The race was set for 3:15 giving enough time for the groundskeepers to prepare the Wooster course for race conditions.

While on the national scene there were certainly fireworks during this day of heavy Presidential voting, Stratford and Bunnell athletes were preparing an illumination sky show of their own. Voters in line at Wooster were certainly treated to a spectacle of local racers on Lincoln Street.

Anytime these schools get together two things are certain, camaraderie and rival school enthusiasm. While keeping their distance both teams once again exchanged pleasantries then it was time to prepare for a win.

With partly sunny skies, temperatures in the low to mid 40’s, virtually no wind, and the course well marked it was time to get both teams to the starting line for the second time this season. This would be the first time a regular season high school meet would be held in the month of November in town history.

On the girls side of the race, Bunnell’s Sophomore Jocelyn Ciotti jumped into the lead holding that position from start to finish, similar to the first matchup held last week at Bunnell, cruising in at 23:22.

Stratford’s Jaylen Evans, a Freshman, placed second with a consistent pace striding in at 24:07.

Bunnell Sophomore Dannah Urban was third at 24:33. Stratford’s Freshman Isabella Pato was fourth at 25:16.

The girls race was setting up an alternating pattern of finishers between the schools with Bunnell’s Meghan Fenton, a Junior, fifth at 25:27.

The next five finishers kept this race a one point decision with Stratford’s Katie Coble, a Freshman, sixth at 26:54.

Stratford Junior Isabella Cola seventh at 26:57.

Bunnell’s Paige Jockers, a Sophmore, came in eighth at 27:12, maintaining a Bunnell one point lead.

Stratford Junior Kendall Smith kept Stratford’s hopes alive with a ninth place finish at 27:37.

Bunnell’s Madison DeRubis, a senior, sealed a Bunnell victory with a tenth place finish at 29:42.

Hannah Lewis was next at 31:36 followed by Stratford’s McKenzie Moore at 31:44.

Bunnell's Lauren Fenton finished at 32:43 and Mya Saez finished at 32:44.

Rounding out the girls race was Bunnell’s Colleen Mullane in 36:41.

Final score Bunnell 27, Stratford 28. Bunnell improves to 5-1, while Stratford falls to 3-4.

On the boys side, the race started at a brisk pace. Leading the way was Bunnell’s Mario Oliva, out pacing the rest of the field in the number one spot at 17:47.

The next six finishers were all Red Devils, Senior Logan Seaburg second at 18:38, third was Senior Elijah Brown at 19:26, fourth saw Sophomore Amos Colocho at 19:29, in fifth Junior Joshua Kydes20:15, sixth Sophomore Ryan Munoz at 20:56, and in seventh Junior Jelani Warburton Baker at 21:17.

Bunnell’s Vincenzo Fabrizi, a Senior, broke the string of Stratford finishers with a 21:24 finish and an eighth place spot.

Bunnell’s Jonathan Gulish, after a short stint on the injured list, finished ninth at 21:25.

Stratford’s James Bragg-Phillips, a Junior, was tenth at 21:31 and Freshman Marcus Cavallo eleventh at 22:28.

The rest of the field of Bunnell finishers saw Senior Mondo Fabrizi at 23:03, Freshman Ben Laros at 23:26, Senior Huy Huong at 24:15, and Freshman Gustavo Oliva at 27:25.

Stratford Freshman Jonathan DaSilva saw his best time of the year at 28:52 and Senior Drilon Nasufi finished at 29:39.

Final score on the afternoon in the boys race, Stratford 20 Bunnell 41.

Stratford moves up to 6-1 and Bunnell goes to 2-4.

Up next, both Stratford and Bunnell advance to the South West Conference Championships on Friday November 6th at Bethel High School’s Mark Goodwin Cross Country Course where the top seven from each school will compete for the 2020 SWC season crown.

The race will be televised on the NFHS network at www.nfhsnetwork.com beginning at 12:30.