On Thursday September 5th, at the Wooster Middle School campus, both Stratford High School and Bunnell High School held a boys and girls cross country scrimmage meet against each other in what has now been a tradition for three years. The race serves as a tune-up for the veteran runner and introduction to 5K cross country racing for the newcomer.
Also, a tradition, in a fine gesture of community spirit and sportsmanship, members of both teams shook hands prior to the meet putting aside the natural rivalry between the schools.
The weather conditions were ideal, temperatures at 70 degrees, a slight breeze, and partly cloudy conditions. The course conditions were nearly perfect with freshly cut grass and manicured running trails.
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Although it was scheduled to be a scrimmage the crowd in attendance might have thought a conference championship was on the line. Obviously, that’s where the pride of the rivalry continues.
When the horn sounded Dennis Johnson and Mario Oliva, of Bunnell, had strong starts followed by Stratford’s Elijah Brown who was holding his own alongside Oliva. In the fourth spot Bunnell’s Jonathan Gulish held pace with Stratford’s Joshua Kydes a stride behind.
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Bunnell’s Maurice Neri and Stratford’s Tyler Ciufo challenged each other numerous times throughout the course. Bunnell teammates Colin Grib and Vincenzo Fabrizi stayed with each other with only a few feet separating the two.
Stratford’s Paul Duncanson, who has been bothered by a hip flexor issue, stayed in the top ten as the race approached the midway point.
At the midway point Johnson had total control of the top spot and he did not have to look back finishing with a time of 18:45. Oliva, with determination in mind, sped his way to a 19:02 time.
All eyes were on Brown and Gulish as they approached the one-half mile to go mark. Brown had a slight lead but the hard charging Gulish would overtake him in the final leg giving Bunnell the top three spots in the race. Gulish crossing the line at 20:06. Brown at 20:15.
But Stratford was not to be counted out in team scoring managing to take spots four, five, and six. With Brown finishing fourth, Kydes (20:40) easily took fifth, and Ciufo sixth at 21:01.
The next two racers for each team would determine the outcome in this one. Neri took the seventh spot at 21:21. Grib would clinch victory for Bunnell with an eighth place finish at 22:34.
Fabrizi was ninth at 22:41. Duncanson tenth at 23:07.
Bunnell’s Luke Dawson at 24:37.
He was followed by Stratford’s Amos Colocho at 24:41 and Ryan Munoz at 26:32
Final score Bunnell 21 Stratford 37.
On the girls side of things, Bunnell’s Meghan Fenton, led all girls from start to finish with time of 26:19. Her teammates Madison Derubis cruised in at 26:44, Kelsey Ponce at 27:27, Dannah Urban at 30:26.
Stratford’s lone entry, Izzy Cola had a strong finish of 31:43.
Rounding out the Bunnell girls lineup were Colleen Mullane at 32:42 and Mya Saez at 35:08.
The post race again saw both teams express pleasantries for a successful 2019 season.
Up next for Stratford, Tuesday September 10th, the season opener at Read Middle School in Newtown against the Newtown Nighthawks and the Rebels of New Fairfield.
Up next for Bunnell, Tuesday September 10th, opening the regular season at Pomperaug to take on the panthers, the Joel Barlow Falcons, and the Lancers of Notre Dame-Fairfield.
