Sports
Stratford and Bunnell Hold Annual Cross Country Scrimmage
Colocho proves He's a Rising Star in the South West Conference
On Thursday September 9th the Stratford High School and Bunnell High School cross country 5K scrimmage meet took place on the illustrious grounds of Wooster Middle School. The course serves as the home course for the Red Devil Boys and Girls Cross Country teams.
The now annual event serves as a kick off to each season in preparation for their official record keeping meets where both schools compete in the highly competitive South West Conference.
Ironically, both these teams will go against each other in their season openers on Tuesday September 14th at Bunnell’s home course located throughout the Bunnell campus. It will be a tri-meet with the third team being the Weston Trojans.
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Prior to the start of the scrimmage meet the traditional exchange of pleasantries where each athlete greets each other with well wishes for the approaching season.
On the boys side, Bunnell features a young and inexperienced group looking to grow as the season progresses. Sophomore Ben Laros leads the Bunnell boys alongside him Sophomore Jaden Alicea.
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The Stratford boys have several returning members coming off a 6 win 3 loss 2020 campaign. Junior Amos Colocho (Co-Captain) comes off an impressive Sophomore year and has seen his times go down all summer long while participating in several charity road races. Emerging as team leaders are Ryan Munoz, Marcus Cavallo, and second year Co-Captain Joshua Kydes. Right around the corner is Senior James Bragg-Phillips.
On the girls side, Bunnell is looking at Jocylyn Ciotti as their number one runner with Paige Jockers alongside her followed by Dannah Urban.
The Stratford girls see Isabella Pato as their top runner with Katie Coble a team contender. The leader on the girls team is clearly Izzy Cola.
Cola is entering her fourth year and literally kept the girls team together the past three seasons. Going back to her Freshman and Sophomore years she was the only member on the team. In her Junior year she captained nine.
This afternoon runners faced dark heavy clouds, a steady rain, and completely soggy grounds. The temperatures were in the tropical 70’s, humidity at 95%, and the all important dew point at an unmanageable 71 degrees. Despite the less than ideal conditions all four teams were not going to let the opportunity to face each other go by.
At 4:03 pm the opening blast sounded and the coed meet was underway. Six Stratford boys vaulted into the top spots going into the first turn. Sprinting out and opening a big lead early was Stratford’s Colocho.
Stratford’s Munoz, Kalaba Kibwe, Joshua Kydes, Marcus Cavallo, and Bragg-Phillips stayed packed together in the opening quarter mile.
Bunnell’s Ciotti was the top Bulldog runner at the same quarter mile mark. A short distance away teammate Jockers.
Rounding out the top ten, Bunnell’s Alicea and Laros.
Today’s highlight show was clearly Colocho as he took command of the race holding an over two minute lead on Munoz.
Ciotti got around Stratford’s Kibwe at the two mile mark and continued to pace Bunnell’s efforts. Jockers only seconds behind.
Colocho finished in a time of 18:25 dominating the number one spot. Munoz second at 21:13. Cavallo slipped into the third spot at 21:48 with Kydes in fourth at 21:54.
Bunnell’s Ciotti finishes fifth overall and Bunnell’s first finisher at 22:25.
Stratford’s Kibwe sixth at 22:30. Bragg-Philipps seventh at 22:51.
Bunnell’s Jockers eight overall (Bunnell’s second finisher) at 23:06.
Bunnell’s Alicea was ninth at 23:08 and Laros tenth at 23:39.
Bunnell’s Gustavo Oliva was next at 24:13, followed by Urban at 24:30.
Stratford’s Pato was the first finisher for the Red Devil girls at 26:49.
The remaining finishers were Bunnell's Alexander Alvarez (27:11).
Stratford’s Andrew Maldonado (27:57).
Bunnell’s Darren Ruskin (28:31), Giovanny Jeanty (28:56), Mya Saez(28:56), Christopher Graham(29:14).
Stratford’s Cola(29:43), Coble (30:12), Lauren Ogrodowicz(30:13), Raiyan Khusru (33:04).
Bunnell’s Eliza Llewelyn (34:32), Clint Joseph(34:39), Lauren Fenton(37:02), Darien Barr(37:06), Adrianna Barbee(37:19).
Stratford’s Papa Insaidoo(45:02).
Final scores in the scrimmage, Bunnell Girls 15 Stratford Girls 50. Stratford Boys 15 Bunnell Boys 50.
Up next for Stratford, Tuesday September 14th, at Bunnell, against the Bulldogs and the Weston Trojans, at 4:00pm.
