Stratford Boys Open up 2023 SWC XC Season

On Tuesday September 12th the Stratford High Boys Cross Country opened up the 2023 South West Conference campaign at Bridgeport’s historic Seaside Park against the host Kolbe Cathedral Cougars, the Weston Trojans, and the Bunnell Bulldogs.

The famed Seaside Park has 325 acres of level land with numerous sports fields, beaches, surf, and complete sunshine along some three miles of shoreline.

Like most days at Seaside it was the place to be as the park was packed with many park goers enjoying the finals days of summer.

The weather for this afternoon’s meet were temperatures in the low 80’s, humidity in the 80's as well, and the dew point at an uncomfortable 71 degrees. Light southerly winds against an outgoing salt water tide.

Runners faced an all grass course with one loop around the entire park and a second partial loop to the finish line.

At 4:30pm the runners lined up at the starting line awaiting the opening blast. Kolbe Coach Mr. Kevin Grimes gave the final race instructions, signaled the race to start, and the season was underway.

Weston’s Cameron Miles jumped right out into the lead with a pack of runners right behind him.

Inside that pack were Kolbe’s Jonial, Omar Carrion, Genesis Rivera, Bunnell’s Alex Vaquerano, running along side Vaquerano was Stratford’s Dyllan Asuncion, followed by Weston’s Brett Martin, Kolbe’s Jonomer Centeno, with Weston’s Marcus Soennsehsen and Colin Hayes within striking distance rounding out the top ten.

One mile in and it was clear that Miles was in the lead and pulling away. Carrion, Rivera, and Jonial were the next group. Vaquerano and Asuncion traded strides for quite a distance.

Martin and Centeno continued to run strong followed by Soennsehen and Hayes.

Going into the two mile mark it was becoming more evident that Kolbe Cathedral was going to have four finishers in the top ten and six in the top twelve in team play.

It was also becoming more and more surprising that Ascuncion would finish in the top ten for Stratford in his first high school career race.

Weston also had four in the top ten, setting the race up for a sweep of the meet between Kolbe and Weston.

Miles crossed the finish line first for Weston with a time of 18:14 followed by three Kolbe racers, Rivera was second at 18:38, Jovial third at 18:46, and Carrion fourth at 18:48.

Bunnell’s Vaquerano was fifth at 18:49. Kolbe’s Centeno was sixth at 19:07.
In seventh was Weston’s Martin at 19:33.

Finishing eighth, as previously mentioned in his first high school career race, and looking impressive was Stratford’s Dyllan Ascunsion, a Freshman, with a time of 19:46.

In ninth was Weston’s Soennsehsen at 20:12. In tenth for Weston was Hayes at 20:16, setting up the meet’s team scoring race up for grabs by virtue of the low score wins in team play.

Kolbe assured themselves of a meet sweep as Rayeon Angel (20:24) and Luke Walker (20:28) crossed the finish line in the eleventh and twelve spots respectively.

The other Stratford finishers were Kent Taylor at 23:23, Akeem Wright at 23:41, Max Lilya at 24:12, Jose Mora at 28:59, Dante Dawes at 37:00, and Papa Insaidoo at 40:26. Jace Taylor was out of the lineup with an undisclosed ailment.

The final scores on the afternoon were Kolbe 23 Weston 34, Kolbe 16 Stratford 47, Kolbe 17 Bunnell 44. Weston 18 Stratford 45, Weston 21 Stratford 38, Bunnell 19 Stratford 37.

Up next for Stratford, Tuesday September 19th, at the Great Hollow Lake located inside Wolfe Park in Monroe against the Masuk Panthers , the Notre-Dame Lancers, and the Pomperaug Panthers at 4:30pm.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link...