NCRC Impresses with Strong Showing in Connecticut and Regional Junior Olympics Cross Country

The New Canaan Running Club (NCRC) qualified 7 of 16 runners for the Regional Junior Olympic Championship held Sunday, November 24 at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, New York. Led by first year coach Bill Martin (New Canaan high school boys cross country and track & field coach), and sponsored by New Balance New Canaan, the youth running club culminated its successful cross country season with two highlight meets. 

Almost half of the running club participated in the Connecticut qualifier meet on November 17th at White Woods Memorial Park in Litchfield, CT, with 7 NCRC runners placing in the top 30 of their respective races and thereby qualifying for the Regionals one week later. Qualifiers included Skylar Bennett, Julianne Jones, Cali Brannan, Megan Waldron, Thomas Arnold, Christian Meier, and Will Foster. 

On November 24th, three of the NCRC qualifiers braved the cold and wind to compete against the best in the Northeast (CT, NY, MA, RI, VT, NH, ME) on the challenging Bowdoin cross country course along the banks of the Hudson River. The top 30 in each race qualify for the Junior Olympic National Championship in San Antonio, TX on December 14th. Cali Brannan placed 57th out of 110 girls in the 13-14 age group 4K, Christian Meier finished 65th out of 148 boys in the 11-12 age group 3K, and Julianne Jones crossed the line in 91st place among the 9-10 age group 3K girls. 

With the leadership and coaching of  Bill Martin, and the support of New Balance New Canaan, the NCRC developed the nucleus of a strong youth running program that should continue to grow and benefit the New Canaan community. NCRC will continue with an outdoor track & field program in spring 2014.

NCRC Results for Connecticut Junior Olympics, November 17th

8 and under Division Girls: 2K Race (19 finishers)
7 Skylar Bennett 9:29   

9-10 Division Girls: 3K Race (16 finishers)
11  Julianne Jones  15:26   

11-12 Division Girls: 3K Race (46 finishers)
38  Dixie D’Amelio  14:44   

13-14 Division Girls: 4K Race (41 finishers)
11  Cali Brannan  17:23
25  Megan Waldron  18:37
38  Catherine Koennecke  22:07   

9-10 Division Boys: 3K Race (37 finishers)
17  Thomas Arnold  12:34 

11-12 Division Boys: 3K Race (70 finishers)
17  Christian Meier  11:31
35  Bartholomew Codd  12:20
40  Matthew Sandor  12:43
56  Christopher Carratu  13:41 

13-14 Division Boys: 4K Race (81 finishers)
4  Will Foster  14:27
68  Henry Asker  18:16
77  James Hirai  19:49
79  Dylan Wietfeldt  20:01
81  Edward Holahan  22:49 

NCRC Results for Regional Junior Olympics, November 24th
9-10 Division Girls: 3K Race (107 finishers)
91  Julianne Jones  17:13 

11-12 Division Boys: 3K Race (148 finishers)
65  Christian Meier  12:12 

13-14 Division Girls: 4K Race (110 finishers) 
57  Cali Brannan  17:12