On Tuesday September 17th the Stratford Boys Cross Country team traveled to the Great Hollow Lake Fields at Wolfe Park in Monroe to face off against the Masuk Panthers, the Pomperaug Panthers, and the New Milford Green Wave.
It was a top ten day of the summer with afternoon temperatures in the low 70’s, low humidity, no wind, and an azure blue sky. It was obvious the weather would draw large crowds to take in the action.
The course is featured with a largely wooded area, tight tough trails, an occasional hill, and an exclusive tour around the famed Great Hollow Lake.
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Onlookers watched as the heavily favored Green Wave took six out of the first ten spots. Not to be counted out, Pomperaug made a strong effort against New Milford with four in the top ten overall.
The Green Wave were led senior Garred Farrell. Farrell pulled ahead of Pomperaug’s Trey Generali in the last fifty yards finishing in a time of 17:27. Generali at 17:29.
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New Milford’s Robert Harkin (17:58) and Jason Golembeski (18:14) were next followed by Pomperaug’s Timothy Monahan (18:30).
The next five spots alternated between New Milford and Pomperaug starting with New Milford’s Andrew Taborsok number six at 18:32. He was followed by Pomperaug’s Hayden Godfrey at 18:38.
The eighth spot saw New Milford’s Conner Delpha at 18:57.
Keeping the meet close against New Milford in ninth spot was Pomperaug’s Joey Bevilaqua at 18:58.
Rounding out the top ten was New Milford’s Jack Valentine at 19:07.
With Valentine’s finish, New Milford claimed three team victories on the day.
But clearly the two team race of the day saw visiting Stratford and home team Masuk entertain the large crowd with the loudest cheers of the day.
The South West Conference surprise runner of the year, Stratford’s Joshua Kydes, claimed the top spot between these two clubs with a 19:42 finish. He was followed by teammate Elijah Brown at 19:50.
Masuk’s Zaccheri Marra led his team against Stratford with a 19:57 time. His teammate Aiden Donnelly cruised in at 21:07.
With a nail-biter now underway the Masuk faithful and Stratford faithful looked to the densely tree populated north end of the course where the home stretch develops into a downhill sprint to the finish.
Stratford’s Tyler Ciufo (21:17) raced around the final turn,unchallenged, giving Stratford the fifth spot between the two teams.
But Masuk’s Michael Eisenman (22:01) and Jacob Lee (22:02) kept this match-up within one team point.
Stratford’s Paul Duncanson answered with an eighth place finish in a time of 22:52.
Stratford’s hopes of winning now rested on the shoulders of freshman Amos Colocho.
Both the Stratford finishers and the Masuk finishers now took to the finish line hoping their teammates could come through for the win.
Masuk’s Daniel Rodriguez sped his way across the line at 23:03 making this battle even closer.
Colocho could be seen coming out of the woods and he turned it on to give the pesky Stratford runners its first victory on the young season.
Final Stratford 27 Masuk 29.
Stratford’s Ryan Munoz bettered his time from last week with a 28:21 effort.
Drillon Nusafi made his Stratford career debut finishing in 29:03.
The rest of the final scores, New Milford 15 Masuk 49, New Milford 22 Pomperaug 33, New Milford 15 Stratford 48, Pompeaug 15 Stratford 50, Pomperaug 15 Masuk 50.
Up next for Stratford, Tuesday September 24th, the home opener, at Wooster Middle School, 4:30 pm, against the Notre Dame-Fairfield Lancers and the Kolbe Cathedral Cougars.
