Colocho Cracks Top 35 In State Wide Cross Country Class MM's

On Monday November 1st, at the illustrious Wickham State Park in Manchester, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference presented the Class MM cross country 5K finals.

The temperatures hovered around 50 degrees with an occasional burst of northwest winds. The pathways lined with trees in their full peak autumn leaf colors.

Due to heavy rains on Saturday the race was moved to this morning. The course remained soggy throughout, because of those heavy rains on Saturday. Today’s abundant sunshine did very little in helping dry the running trails for racers who struggled with their footing.

Thousands were on hand, on what is considered the mecca of Connecticut cross country race courses, ready to watch racers strategize the tough course conditions and how they would manage the famed “Green Monster”, a hill that seems to never end. Most runners in today’s finals were equipped with spikes to help in the mud and also to ascend up the more than one-quarter mile hill.

Stratford High School sent five boys to the starting line in box thirteen with the race scheduled for a 10:20 morning start.

Once again all eyes were on Junior Amos Colocho. Colocho gained notoriety in the South West Conference this season and now is looking to continue his outstanding season which includes three first place overall finishes.

Alongside Colocho were Seniors James Bragg-Phillips, Senior Andrew Maldonado, four year member now in his final race Senior Joshua Kydes, and Junior Ryan Munoz.

Legendary race starter Gene Waring gave the field of 170 racers official race instructions and then sounded the opening blast.

All 170 are tasked to get into a narrow lane within two-tenths of a mile from the starting line. Runners who do not get there ahead of the pack struggle to gain ground in catching up to the leaders.

Fortunately for Stratford they maintained a quick start and held a position in the top half going into the choke point opening moments.

Colocho was a step better in staying within the top 40.

At the top was East Lyme’s Luke Anthony. He opened up a big lead and after the first half mile there was no looking back.

Avon’s Jack Martin and Carver Morgan were next in line and Avon was off to a fine team start with their top five in sight within the top twelve.

Joining Avon in team play was Daniel Hand sporting three runners in the top eight. Hand was led by John O’keefe maintaining spot number four.

Rham High School’s Liam Calhoun in fifth followed by E.O. Smith High School’s Evan Boland. Hand’s Nicholas Montana and Harrision Grenier pacing each other in seventh and eighth.

East Lyme’s Branden Fant in ninth.

Avon’s Thomas Armistead, Jack Odonnell, and Nicholas Baily in places ten, eleven, and twelve.

Stratford’s Colocho battled his way up the “Green Monster” creeping his way into the top 35. Munoz and Kydes were nearly a minute behind. Bragg-Phillips held his pace heading into the one mile and quarter turn. Maldonado, back from a shortened SWC race because of injury, rounding out the Stratford line-up.

The “Green Monster” is roughly the halfway mark and from there the course levels off until the final half-mile uphill grade.

Heading back over to the leaders, Anthony appeared to be getting stronger going into the final stretch with no one else in sight. Anthony finished first in a time of 15:59 making him the CIAC Class MM Cross Country Champion.

In second, Martin at 16:30 with teammate Morgan in third at 16:43. O’keefe placed fourth at 16:50. Calhoun landed in fifth at 16:58. In sixth, Boland at 17:08. In seventh, Montana at 17:18.
In eighth, Grenier at 17:19. In ninth, Fant at 17:21.

The next three finishers and clinching a 2021 CIAC Class MM State title for Avon, Armistead at 17:40, Odonnell at 17:41, and Baily at 17:45. As Baily crossed the finish line team Avon celebrated in the winners circle with each team member awarded a medallion for their efforts before posing for pictures.

The Stratford faithful on hand turned to watch as Colocho was marching to the finish line sandwiched between a pair of E.O. Smith runners. Colocho finished in thirty-second place with a time of 18:55. Colocho ends his remarkable season in fine fashion with one of the best seasons in school history.

Both Munoz and Kydes approached the finish line matching strides, it appeared out of respect for Kydes, in his final career high school race, Munoz let up a bit to let Kydes slip ahead. Kydes’s time was 20:52.43, Munoz in at 20:52.70.

Bragg-Phillips finished in a time of 21:30. This was also his final high school career race.

Maldonado, the third Stratford racer in his final high school career race, ended it with a time of 25:47.
Unable to make the trip due to injury were Marcus Cavallo and Kalaba Kibwe.

Up next, season over.

Stratford looks forward to the 2022 season, building the future with returning members Amos Colocho, Ryan Munoz, Cavallo, Raiyan Khrusu, and Papa Insaidoo.