Conard, Somers, Ridgefield, New Milford Runners Win At State Open

MANCHESTER, CT — The State Open cross country championships at Wickham Park were a contrast between the boys and girls races. An expected 3-runner showdown in the boys race added a fourth athlete to the drama, while a girl from one of the smaller towns in the state blew away the field.

Brothers Gavin and Callum Sherry of Conard dueled with Manchester's Aidan Puffer, as they have done so many times over the past four years, but Michael Bohlke of Newington also kept up with the lead pack. Gavin Sherry won the race, covering the hilly 3.1 mile course in 15:16, while his brother held off Puffer and Bohlke on the final ascent to claim second.

Ridgefield captured the boys team championship, placing three runners in the top 20 to finish with 82 points and claim its first boys team title since 2013. Xavier had 110 points to edge Hall for second place.

In the girls individual race, it was no contest, as Rachel St. Germain of Somers opened up a 30-second lead by the midway point and cruised to victory. Her time of 18:02 was 46 seconds faster than runner-up Brooke Strauss of Glastonbury, who edged Sydney Kelleher of New Milford by a second.

As a consolation, Class L champion New Milford won its first girls State Open championship with 94 points, far outdistancing runner-up Glastonbury.

Here are the top six teams and 25 individuals in each race. Click the headers for complete results.

BOYS

Teams

1. Ridgefield, 82
2. Xavier, 110
3. Hall, 112
4. Staples, 168
5. Avon, 169
6. Daniel Hand, 213

Individuals

1. Gavin Sherry, Conard, 15:16
2. Callum Sherry, Conard
3. Aidan Puffer, Manchester
4. Michael Bohlke, Newington
5. Luke Anthony, East Lyme
6. Eamon Burke, Xavier
7. Jack Martin, Avon
8. Nikita Omelchenko, Wilbur Cross
9. Walker Beverly, Hall
10. Steven Hergenrother, Ridgefield
11. Luke Davis, Simsbury
12. Mason Beaudette, Amity Regional
13. Justin Cascio, Lewis Mills
14. Nathan Cramer, Fairfield Ludlowe
15. Matthew McDonough, Ridgefield
16. Evan Boland, E.O. Smith
17. Griffin Mandirola, Suffield
18. Luke Stoffler, Tolland
19. Sean Barkasy, Manchester
20. Jack Dovaras, Ridgefield
21. Zachary Taubman, Staples
22. John O'Keefe, Daniel Hand
23. Liam Calhoun, RHAM
24. Carver Morgan, Avon
25. Ryan Gagne, Wethersfield

GIRLS

Teams

1. New Milford, 94
2. Glastonbury, 124
3. Hall, 171
4. Ridgefield, 178
5. E.O. Smith, 184
6. Guilford, 216

Individuals

1. Rachel St. Germain, Somers, 18:02
2. Brooke Strauss, Glastonbury
3. Sydney Kelleher, New Milford
4. Katherine Rector, Ridgefield
5. Alexa Ciccone, Cheshire
6. Kali Holden, Trumbull
7. Madelaine Sweeney, New Milford
8. Anna Keeley, Fairfield Ludlowe
9. Megan Minicucci, Bolton
10. Julia Antony, Guilford
11. Chloe Poulos, Woodland
12. Katherine Sanderson, Hall
13. Radea Raleva, New Canaan
14. Nora Holmes, Hall
15. Peyton Bornstein, Tolland
16. Esme Daplyn, Greenwich
17. Anna Omelchenko, Wilbur Cross
18. Katherine Bohlke, Newington
19. Julianne Teitler, Darien
20. Emily Mrakovcic, Wilton
21. Claire Daniels, New Milford
22. Jacqueline Izzo, Southington
23. Stephanie Burzynski, Somers
24. Stephanie Queiroz, Danbury
25. Yee-Ying Ng, Bethel

Photos: Tim Jensen/Patch

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