Stratford Cross Country Boys Over Kolbe In A Nailbiter

On Tuesday October 5th, in South West Conference action, the Stratford Boys Cross Country team traveled to Reed Intermediate School in Newtown for a quad-meet against the host Newtown Nighthawks, the New Milford Green Wave, and the Kolbe Cathedral Cougars.

On hand was an enormous crowd lining the well spread out course with quite a few Stratford faithful making the trip to cheer on the field of seventy-one runners.

The weather provided cloudy skies, temperatures in the low 60’s, a still wind, and a soggy course from the previous day’s rain fall.

The course was mostly all grass with only an asphalt roadway at the start and at the one-half mile mark for a short stretch. What makes this a tougher course is when runners near the two and half mile mark there is a narrow zig-zag steep hill where there is little room to maneuver a pass leading to a one hundred yard uphill grade to the finish line.

Year in and year out the SWC has seen the Green Wave capture numerous championships and this year sees them once again a powerhouse.

The Nighthawks traditionally come in with big numbers, today they send to the starting line a team of forty-eight.

The John Pfohl coached Cougars of Kolbe Cathedral have been a surprise in the league this season with an expanded roster and have beaten some quality teams.

Stratford has seen its number one runner, Amos Colocho, earn a label of a top conference runner.

Today, Colocho showed he has earned that label as at the start of this meet he set the pace in the lead. But he was surrounded by four New Milford runners, Ben Schipul, AJ Taborsak, Collin Walsh, and Ben Daniels, with the race now one mile old. Those four Green Wave runners shifted positions several times creating a diamond shape in the slight downhill portion of the course.

Right there with the pack was Kolbe’s Will Vargas.

Newtown’s Aiden Budge held down the seven spot with New Milford’s Caleb Cerra and James Najera just behind giving New Milford six runners in the top nine.

Rounding out the top ten was Newtown’s Sam Staubley.

In the back stretch of the race the top four New Milford runners made their move kicking it in towards the finish line. Walsh (17:13) and Taborsak (17:14) were now well ahead and finished in that order.

In third, New Milford’s Shipul at 17:39 and in fourth New Milford’s Daniels at 17:49.

Kolbe’s Vargas surged ahead of Stratford’s Colocho (18:12) for fifth place at 18:05.

In seventh place, Newtown’s Budge at 18:21.

In eighth place, and sealing a dominating New Milford winning performance, Cerra at 18:27. With Cerra’s finish New Milford claimed three wins on the afternoon. Cerra was followed by Najera, his teammate, at 18:29.

Newtown’s Staubly took tenth at 18:49.

Newtown now looked for wins over Stratford and Kolbe as Staubly was followed by his teammates Colby Harrell (18:57) and Dan Sibley (19:06).

Kolbe’s Exauce Mpoy kept hopes alive against Newtown and put Kolbe in the lead against Stratford with his thirteenth place finish.

But Newtown’s Stephen Sibley (19:18) came in giving Newtown wins over Stratford and Kolbe.

The race between Stratford and Kolbe became a seesaw battle with runners from each teams alternating finishes.

Kolbe had a one runner lead over Stratford.

Stratford’s Joshua Kydes and Ryan Munoz finished next, giving Stratford a one runner lead.

Evening things up was Kolbe’s Genesis Rodriguez with a finish of 20:43.

Stratford’s Marcus Cavallo ( 21:00) snuck his way in and Stratford went back to a one runner lead.

Stratford’s James Bragg-Phillips (21:22) was in sight of the finish line and sealed a close win against Kolbe. With the 21:22 finish, Bragg-Phillips set his personal best time.

Stratford saw three runners set their personal best times on the day. In addition to Bragg-Phillips, Andrew Maldonado came in at 24:01 and Papa Insaidoo came in at 39:41. Raiyan Khursu finished at 33:12.

Final scores on the afternoon, New Milford 16 Newtown 43, New Milford 16 Stratford 47, New Milford 16 Kolbe Cathedral 46, Newtown 20 Stratford 43, Newtown 21 Kolbe Cathedral 40, and Stratford 26 Kolbe Cathedral 29.

Stratford goes to four wins against six losses on the season.

Up next for Stratford, at Wooster Middle School, on Friday October 8th, versus the West Haven Blue Devils and the Bunnell Bulldogs at 4:00 pm.