By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp
SWC Showdown
The first week of regular season meets started with the most interesting showdown taking place at New Fairfield High on Tuesday as the 2nd ranked Rebels were mildly upset by 7th ranked New Milford in a SWC showdown. The two conference rivals took the top two spots at SWCs in 2022 and finished 2nd and 3rd at the State Open with New Milford coming out on top both times. Even though the Green Wave graduated three of their top five, they seem to have filled the void. New Fairfield struck first with sophomore Katie McMorrow crossing the line in front of New Milford’s Kat Taborsak and Izzy Green. It came out that New Milford had more depth and won on a 6th man tie breaker after their identical 28-28 score.
Boyle, Vleiks Claim Neubauer Individual Wins
After a day’s delay due to stormy weather, the 34th Bob Neubauer XC Invitational took place at Sheehan High School in Wallingford last Thursday. Hand’s Annecy Vlieks and Nico Boyle of North Haven easily won the individual races, while Foran took the girls event and Cromwell won the boys title.
Vlieks, the Class M 3200m champion last spring, has started off her season on a high note winning by one minute and 42 seconds over runner-up Eleanor Chamberlain, finishing in a time of 19:46.2. This was only a week after she took third in the Stratton Brook Invitational.
The Hand sophomore led her team to a runner up finish, 11 points behind Foran who scored 44 points. The Lions were led by Adrianna Gonzalez, Olivia Dyki and Alexandra Regan who went 2-4-5 in the team scoring with all five scorers in the top half of the field.
The boys race was won by North Haven’s Nico Boyle who dropped almost a minute from his time last year on the same course. The senior, who was fourth last outdoor season at the Class MM 3200m race, finished 44-seconds ahead of Cromwell’s Dylan Bathrick in a time of 16:44.4
Bathrick led all Panther scorers in the top 14 to score 46 points with Lyman Hall 14 points behind in second place In the six team field.
The complete meet results including team scoring details, courtesy of Paynes Corner Timing are available at MySportsResults.com – 34th Robert M. Neubauer XC Invitational sponsored by Marathon Sports – with stores in Branford, Fairfield, Glastonbury and Old Saybrook.
Blue Dragon Invitational
Colby Bornstein seems to be the next, in the long line of great Tolland cross country runners. He…
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