Uphill Battle For Stratford Boys Cross Country

On Wednesday October 2nd, the Stratford Boys cross country team traveled to Joel Barlow High School to go up against the Falcons, Immaculate Mustangs, and the Bethel Wildcats in a Southwest Conference 5K matchup.

All racers in this one had to face steamy conditions, with close to record second setting high temperatures, cloudy skies, and the occasional light shower at times.

The course is described as covering the entire campus, multi-terrain, numerous pitches and angles, winding and hilly trails that involve at least one mile of pure woods.

The race was the start of three meets in six days for Stratford.

Stratford coming off a home meet sweep from last week, had to face an uphill battle right from the start as they would be without their number three runner Tyler Ciufo who was out due to injury.

The Immaculate Mustangs, the 2018 defending Class SS Champions, came in as a league powerhouse.

Joel Barlow, also in the top tier of the league, were looking to make a statement on their home course.

Bethel year and year out continues to send out an abundant contending roster.

A field of sixty-nine toed the line as the starting pistol went off.

Mustang’s James Sullivan, Ryan McNerney, and Bethel’s Robert Doyle led the charge going into mile one.

Barlow’s Sean McHale, Calvin Young, Mustang Drew Mitchell, Bethel’s Luca Cazzigna, were all bunched up as they stayed within reach of the leaders.

At the mile and a half mark the meet became a two team race between Immaculate and Joel Barlow.

Stratford’s Elijah Brown led his team and stayed in the top twenty. Teammate Joshua Kydes continued his excellent season going in what now for Stratford became a race for individual times.

At the end of this one Sullivan cruised his way to a number one finish at 17:25.

Doyle in second at 17:49. McNerney in third at 17:52. McHale in fourth at 18:01. Mitchell in fifth at 18:11. Cazzigna sixth at 18:38.

Barlow’s Buster Whaley came in at 19:08, more importantly he was the fifth Falcon finisher.

Ian Fitzgerald became Immaculate’s fourth finisher at 19:22. His teammate Matt Reaves was the fifth finisher at 19:32.

The scorer’s table was now at the center of attention with the score being tallied up between Immaculate and Joel Barlow.

Meanwhile Brown came in sixteenth overall at 19:28. Kydes in at 20:32.

Stratford’s Paul Duncanson managed a finish of 22:23. Teammates Amos Colocho came in at 27:06, Ryan Munoz at 29:25, and rounding out the Stratford six, Drilon Nasufi at 29:53.

Back to the scorer’s table for the final scores. It was Immaculate winners over Barlow 28-29. Immaculate over Bethel 25-32 and over Stratford 15-50. Barlow over Bethel 27-30 and over Stratford 15-50. Bethel over Stratford 16-45.

Up next for Stratford, at Milford’s Eisenhower Park, Friday October 4th at 3:30, against Jonathan Law, Platt Tech, and West Haven High Schools.