Standout Runner From West Hartford Wins New England Championship

MANCHESTER, CT — For the fourth time in 24 days, Conard High School sophomore Gavin Sherry tackled the "Green Monster" at Wickham Park in championship competition Saturday, and for the fourth straight time, he emerged victorious in the New England Interscholastic Cross Country Championships.

Sherry topped the field of 260 entrants in the boys race, crossing the finish line in 15 minutes, 30 seconds for his second-fastest winning time on the demanding 3.1 mile course. He edged rival Robbie Cozean of Xavier, who was four seconds behind.

Sherry had overtaken Cozean in the final 150 yards to win the State Open on Nov. 1. Six days earlier, he had captured the Class LL title in 15:24, his personal best time on the course, and on Oct. 16, he won the CCC championship by an 18-second margin.

LaSalle Academy of Rhode Island won the boys team title with 89 points. Tolland placed third and Conard wound up fifth.

On the girls' side, Sofie Matson of Falmouth, Me. was the overall champion, finishing in 17:52. Mari Noble of Greenwich, fresh off an upset victory in the State Open, placed second, with Kate Wiser of Pomperaug finishing third. Ava Graham of Bethel (sixth) and Kate Hedlund of Manchester (ninth) were other top 10 finishers from Connecticut in the field of 263 girls.

Champlain Valley Union of Vermont won the girls team title, compiling 142 points. Hall High School was second, while Trumbull took fifth.

Here are the boys and girls team and individual champions, as well as Connecticut individuals placing in the top 25 and state teams finishing in the top 10. Click the headers for full results.

BOYS

Individuals

1. Gavin Sherry, Conard, 15:30
2. Robbie Cozean, Xavier, 15:34
11. Alec Sauter, Tolland, 16:08
14. Morgan Fierro, Staples, 16:13
17. Matt Jennings, Haddam-Killingworth, 16:15
19. Nicholas Bendtsen, Wolcott, 16:16
24. Jackson Cayward, Tolland, 16:20

Teams

1. LaSalle Academy (RI), 89
2. Bishop Hendricken (RI), 138
3. Tolland, 139
5. Conard, 221
6. Staples, 231
8. Ridgefield, 315

GIRLS

Individuals

1. Sofie Matson, Falmouth (ME), 17:52
2. Mari Noble, Greenwich, 17:57
3. Kate Wiser, Pomperaug, 18:09
6. Ava Graham, Bethel, 18:46
9. Kate Hedlund, Manchester, 18:49
11. Daniella Grullon-Pena, Danbury, 18:52
14. Tess Pisanelli, Ridgefield, 18:56
15. Claire Daniels, New Milford, 18:58
19. Alessandra Zaffina, Trumbull, 19:02
22. Jacqueline Izzo, Southington, 19:03
23. Jenna Zydanowicz, Hall, 19:03
25. Amanda Derway, Simsbury, 19:05

Teams

1. Champlain Valley Union (VT), 142
2. Hall, 173
5. Trumbull, 245
6. Simsbury, 273