3 Stratford Cross Country Boys Attain Personal Records

On Saturday October 26th the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) presented the Class MM cross country championships at Manchester’s Wickham Park.

With plenty of sunshine, temperatures in the mid 50's, virtually no wind, and a classic cross country race course, twenty-three high schools sent their top seven runners,the most allowed by rule, to participate in the class MM division finals. The Stratford High School boys cross country team would be positioned along the rail in box number three.

An estimated crowd of 4,000 thousand filled the course to watch the field of 163 race off into action. The strategy at the start line is who could get out in front going into turn one, where all the racers would have to merge into a narrower lane in order to stay with the leaders. Those that don't get there first fall behind making it difficult to catch up.

The individual favorite coming in was Avon’s Jack Martin.

The favorites in the top ten team scoring included three South West Conference teams, Joel Barlow, Weston, and Bethel. East Lyme was looking to three peat. Guilford and Avon were certainly expected to challenge for a title.

Stratford had six racers in the event. Four of which were completing their first year of cross country racing.

As race time approached and all racers finished their pre-race rituals, veteran race official Gene Waring summoned everyone to their assigned starting boxes.

For the second year in a row each racer was issued a timing chip secured in their running shoe. Waring gave final instructions, sounded the opening blast, and off they went.

As predicted Martin jumped out to an early lead followed by East Lyme’s Fisher Macklin and Luke Anthony, Woodstock Academy’s Ethan Aspiras, Rockville’s Sam Hollworth, Berlin’s Michael Parzych, and Bethel’s Robert Doyle.

Making a move at the one mile mark was East Lyme’s Christopher Abbey.

Ben Crair, of Guilford, Weston’s, Ryan Rupprecht, and Brookfield’s Jadon Parris were shoulder to shoulder with this race just over a mile completed.

Stratford’s contending runner Joshua Kydes maintained pace in the top tier of racers. First year runner and teammate Tyler Ciufo was ahead of his normal pace with the race halfway through.

Team Captain Paul Duncanson, in his final high school race, was being challenged throughout the race by freshman Amos Colocho. This would be the end of a four year stellar cross country career for Duncanson.

Stratford freshman Ryan Munoz had his stride going strong and was several seconds ahead of his best pace.

Moving back over to the top leaders, they were now heading up the renowned hill known as the “green monster” Martin maintained a five second lead over Anthony. Trailing Anthony was Macklin and Aspiras.

Parzych held onto the fifth spot followed by Hollworth, Abbey, Doyle, Crair, and Rupprecht.

Martin came into the final turn with a fifteen second lead and an all out sprint to the finish line to claim the number one spot at 16:18.
Anthony placed second at 16:39.
Macklin in third at 16:45.
Aspiras fourth at 16:49.
Parzych fifth at 16:51.
Holloworth sixth at 16:53.
Abbey seventh at 16:56.
Doyle in eighth at 16:58.

For spots nine, ten, and eleven it was up for grabs as Crair, Parris, and Rupprecht still were within inches of each other. They headed down the heavily populated stretch to the loudest cheers of the race.

Officials at the line relied on the electronics in place to decide the order of finish.

Crair was awarded ninth at 17:01.31

Rupprecht in tenth at 17:01.36, and Parris in eleventh at 17:01.39

Kydes cruised in at 19:04. Kydes enjoyed a leaps and bounds year and is easily Stratford’s next emerging runner.

Ciufo held his earlier pace finishing in 19:57. With that time Ciufo earned his best ever time.

An inspired Colocho came across the line just ahead of Duncanson (21:58) with a time of 21:57. The two shook hands at the end and enjoyed a mock passing of the torch moment. Colocho accomplished his best time ever in his young career.

Munoz maintained his strong start holding on for his best time ever with a finish of 23:46.

Drilon Nusafi completed his first year of cross country in successful fashion in a time of 28:34.

Elijah Brown was a healthy scratch.

East Lyme claimed the title of 2019 CIAC Class MM Champions. Avon was the runner-up.

Up next for Stratford: Season over.