Stratford Boys Cross Country Sweep Meet, Make School History

On Tuesday September 24th the Stratford High School Boys Cross Country team hosted the Notre Dame-Fairfield Lancers and the Kolbe Cathedral Cougars in head to head Southwest Conference Patriot Division action from Wooster Middle School.

The skies were partly cloudy with temperatures in the middle 70’s and an occasional gust of northwest wind. The transition from summer to fall was definitely in the air as crews earlier in the day put their final touches on the early autumnal grounds in preparation of Stratford’s home opener.

Stratford was looking to build off its first win of the season from last week’s effort against Masuk. The Lancers and Cougars were also looking to make a mark with a large crowd on hand as all three schools are a short distance from each other in a well spread out conference.

The 5K course has become a favorite for runners over the years because of its flat and fast race conditions. It is also a favorite among those that watch the race with racers never out of view.

With runners advancing to the starting line, the stage was set for what was to become a history making day.

Right from the sounding blast Stratford runners Elijah Brown and Joshua Kydes jaunted out of the box creating distance from the rest of the field.

Notre Dame’s Nathaniel Collazo was next followed by Stratford’s Tyler Ciufo, Paul Duncanson, and Kolbe’s Tyrell Staples-Santos.

Kolbe teammate Exauce Mpoy followed Staples-Santos. Challenging Mpoy was Notre Dame’s Sean Mitchell.

With the race now approaching the mile and a half mark Brown was first, Kydes was second, Ciufo was third, and Duncanson made a move to pass Collazo and it was all Stratford heading into the final mile.

Stratford took total control down the stretch, Brown in first at 18:42, Kydes second at 19:30, Ciufo third at 20:08, and Duncanson fourth at 20:35.

The question to be answered would be, could Stratford freshman Amos Colocho come through again as Stratford’s fifth finisher enabling two wins on the day. Colocho stayed in contention as the race moved on to its final half mile.

Before Colocho finished, Collazo (20:49) took fifth place overall,followed by Staples-Santos (20:50) , Mpoy (20:52), Mitchell (21:42), and Kolbe’s Henry Rondon (21:43) in the ninth spot.

Rounding out the top ten was Notre Dame’s Luis Colon at 22:16.

With Colocho in striking distance of the finish line, and the crowd urging him on, he was able to pull up to and alongside Notre Dame’s Noah Maximin. It became the photo finish of the day in favor of Colocho at 23:46.08, Maximin at 23:46.33.

Colocho secured the two wins and a sweep for Stratford.

Stratford's Ryan Munoz turned in his best time of the year with a finish of 24:56. Teammate Drilon Nasufi chipped in with a 28:54 finish.

Kolbe’s Michael Olivencia became the deciding runner in the Kolbe/Notre Dame matchup in a very close scoring decision.

Final score Kolbe 27 Notre Dame 29.

With the results now final, Stratford historians were checking the record books for two possible firsts. The two firsts being looked at, were, when was the last time Stratford swept a meet and when was the last time four Stratford runners finished in the top four overall in a meet.

Final scores were Stratford 19 Notre Dame 36 and Stratford 21 Kolbe Cathdral 35.

Record keepers declared that today’s results were the first time in Stratford High School history that Stratford swept a cross country meet and it is also the first time in school history Stratford runners finished in the top four overall.

Up next for Stratford, Wednesday October 2nd, at Joel Barlow against the Falcons, the Bethel Wildcats, and the Immaculate Mustangs.