The FCIAC Cross Country Championships is the highlight of many cross country seasons, being a thrilling showcase of talent and determination held annually in New Canaan’s own Waveny park. Let’s go into the races that unfolded at this year’s championship
Boys Varsity
The Boys Varsity race was a highlight of the day, featuring some of the region’s best young runners. The competition was fierce, and New Canaan’s athletes gave it their all, even though they faced tough opponents. The team scores reflected the intense nature of the race, with Ridgefield narrowly claiming the top spot with a score of 38, closely followed by Danbury with 45 points. New Canaan finished strong in sixth place with 162 points.
Steven Hergenrother of Ridgefield emerged as the champion, displaying an impressive performance with a remarkable time of 15:34. His victory was hard-earned, as he faced stiff competition from Parker Broderick of Fairfield Warde, who finished in second place with a time of 15:40. Magnus Manley of Ridgefield secured the third spot with 15:49.
Among the New Canaan athletes, Ryan Boulanger delivered a stellar performance, finishing in 18th place with a time of 16:40, an all-time PR for him in the 5,000-meter event. Sophomore Braden Barber also PR’d on his race, finishing in 27th place with a time of 17:03. These runners set the tone for New Canaan and left their mark on the championship.
Faizal Zakir Hussain and JD also delivered strong performances, finishing 49th and 52th, respectively. Both runners earned PRs during this race with times of 17:45 and 17:51, respectively. When asked for comment after the race, Faizal stated, “Although we may haven’t gotten the results we had wanted, everyone worked hard. It was a great race with multiple PRs from our team.” JD mirrored this sentiment, saying, “Some great performances from everyone. We could have done better overall, but we are still motivated and training for states.”
I was extremely proud of all my team members (especially Charlotte) and even though we got second again this year I know that it was a hard race and so it’s a win for me and we’re looking to bounce back and hopefully win states! – Varsity Runner Radea Raleva
Girls Varsity
The Girl’s Varsity race was equally exciting, with talented athletes from various schools competing for top place. Greenwich, the ultimate champions, won with 49 points, closely followed by New Canaan, who secured second place with 79 points. Wilton rounded up the top three with 97 points. The competition was intense, and New Canaan’s runners accomplished an impressive feat by taking second place.
Kate Friedman of Greenwich was the star of the day, claiming the top spot with a phenomenal time of 18:49. Esme Daplyn, also from Greenwich, secured the second spot with a time of 18:51, and Charlotte Moor of New Canaan took the third position with 18:58. Not only an impressive placement, Charlotte Moor earned a 5,000 meter PR on this race, the third PR of this year she has achieved.
New Canaan’s Radea Raleva’s remarkable performance secured her seventh place with a time of 19:21, contributing significantly to her team’s second-place finish along with being her best time ever in this event. “I was extremely proud of all my team members (especially charlotte) and even though we got second again this year I know that it was a hard race and so it’s a win for me and we’re looking to bounce back and hopefully win states!!”
New Canaan’s team effort was further highlighted by Eliana Savelli, who secured the 18th position with a time of 20:13. Her contribution was pivotal in maintaining the team’s second-place position. Maggie Greiner finished 29th with a time of 20:58, and Niyathi Iyengar secured the 44th position.
Across the board, Girl’s varsity has outdone themselves in this year’s FCIAC championship meet. Out of the 11 total runners for New Canaan in the varsity race, 9 of them achieved PRs during this meet.
Boys Junior Varsity
New Canaan performed well in the junior varsity race, taking 5th place with 116 points. Danbury dominated the field with a score of 28, followed by Staples with 39 points.
Deydon Soto of Danbury secured the top spot in the Junior Varsity race with an impressive time of 17:40. His victory was well-deserved, as he showcased exceptional skills and determination. The New Canaan runners in this division also gave it their all, with Colin Smith finishing 18th and John Frieders securing the 19th place.
Cooper Colthup and Johann Wrede both did well in the race, finishing 28th and 33rd, respectively. Cormac Kilkenny delivered a commendable performance, securing the 40th position.
Girls Junior Varsity
New Canaan’s girl’s junior varsity team secured third place with 91 points. Greenwich claimed the top spot with 45 points, followed by Wilton with 70 points. The athletes in this division displayed remarkable team spirit and determination.
Sophie Dolce from New Canaan delivered an outstanding performance, securing the sixth position with a time of 22:26. Her teammates, including Grace Farley, Ella Tinker, Brooke Healy, and Lucy Schaner, contributed significantly to the team’s success. Their combined effort and unwavering support for one another were key factors in securing the third position.
The FCIAC Cross Country Championships provided a platform for young athletes to shine, and New Canaan’s runners certainly did that. Their performances, whether in the Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity, Boys Junior Varsity, or Girls Junior Varsity divisions, showcased their potential and determination. These athletes have a bright future in cross country, and they are a testament to the town’s commitment to sports excellence. Freshman runner Boyd Cousley delivered this quote, which sums up both the freshman performance as well as the entire team’s performance in the FCIAC championships. “We have this really strong freshmen team where we know going into meets we’re probably going to win it as a team. The freshmen coming off of FCIACs are still undefeated. We have pretty high expectations for the freshmen championship in Danbury and we think we’ll have an equally good performance to FCIACs. FCIACs is a very nervous yet exciting race. The course is different from all of our home meets so there’s less familiarity and confidence than our home course that we know so well. We went in with the expectation we would do really well and many of us didn’t disappoint ourselves. Our top freshmen Charlie Cavanaugh and Teddy Bliss finished first and second and I in sixth. It was a really fun race and I only hope we can keep improving and have such an explosive impact at the freshmen championship as the rest of our meets.”
In conclusion, the New Canaan High School athletes at the FCIAC Cross Country Championships put on a spectacular show, demonstrating their talent, resilience, and team spirit. Their remarkable performances in all divisions set the stage for even greater achievements in the years to come. As these young athletes continue to train and grow, we can expect to see New Canaan’s cross country program reach new heights.
