New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Staples’ Lorenz, Cheshire’s Ciccone win Wickham titles
MANCHESTER — Each year for close to four decades teams from across Connecticut and New England converge on Wickham Park in early October to gauge where they stand before returning later in the month for the CIAC state cross country championships.
If Saturday’s results are any indication, the FCIAC could be primed for postseason success.
The FCIAC dominated the Boys Large Division at Saturday’s Wickham Park Invitational, with junior
Ben Lorenz of Staples winning the race by nearly 50 meters and Danbury winning the team title.
Lorenz, in 20th place at one point, made his move with 1,000 meters remaining and quickly took the lead from junior Luke Davis of Simsbury. With 800 meters to go he was cruising with a 20-meter lead. He entered the final 100 meters with a 30-meter lead and continued to pull away.
“With about 1,000 meters to go, I kicked it in to get the lead,” Lorenz said. “I took that because I felt I needed to create a gap between me and the Simsbury runner. He’s a good runner. I slowly pulled away and pulled away at the end to make sure I won. I finished 17th here last year as a sophomore and ran about 1:30 slower. My team did well too, so overall I’m happy. This gives us good momentum going into the postseason.”
Davis finished second in 16:07, David Carillo of Trumbull was third in 16:11 and Alexander Ushchak of Xavier was fourth in 16:26.
Danbury won the team title with 86 points, Staples was second with 98 and Xavier was third with 101. Trumbull was fifth.
Joshua Roos was the top Danbury finisher, coming in 12th in 16:45, Michael Komisky followed in 13th place in 16:47 and Devon Rosemark was 16th in 16: 50.
GIRLS LARGE DIVISION (CLASS L, LL)
Alexa Ciccone of Cheshire was among the top three runners for most of the Large race, and with 200 meters left, she took the lead over Kathryn Marchand of Trumbull. She created a gap between herself and Marchand and won in 18: 57.
“I always stay behind the leaders when I run and try to run off the pace at the end,” Ciccone said. “When I took the lead I wasn’t sure if I could hang on. Kathryn Marchand recently beat me in the Wilton Invitational.
“I just kept running as hard as I could. I wasn’t confident I had the win until I crossed the finish line.”
New Canaan won the team title with 96 points. The Rams were led by Charlotte Moor, who was seventh in 20:08 and Radea Raleva who was eighth in 20:29. Greenwich was second with 154 points and Trumbull third with 155.
“It was nice to get some good times and places on a course we’ll be back on in a few weeks (for CIAC class meets Oct. 29),” New Canaan coach Jeff Brentson said. “This gives our girls some good momentum going into the postseason.”
BOYS MEDIUM DIVISION (CLASS M, MM)
There were teams from out of state in the meet from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, and East Greenwich (Rhode Island) dominated both the Boys and Girls Medium Divisions.
In the Boys Division, Nick Martin of East Greenwich won the race in 16:15. Brayden Bayek of Rocky Hill was second in 16:17 and Nicholas Montana of Hand was third in 16:27.
East Greenwich also won the team title with 122 points. Souhegan (New Hampshire) was second with 131 points and Hand was third with 161.
Other top finishers for East Greenwich were Justin Destefano, who was 14th in 17:13 and Luke Allen was 18th in 17:27.
GIRLS MEDIUM DIVISION
Rees Fahys of East Greenwich won in 19:09, Kelly Jones of Lauralton Hall was second in 19:36 and freshman Annecy Vlieks of Hand was third in 19:39.
Vlieks was one of four freshmen from Connecticut to finish in the top 17. New Fairfield’s Katie McMorrow was fourth (19:54), Mercy’s Sarah Roberts 12th (20:56) and New Fairfield’s Hannah Greco 17th (21:18).
Fahys took the lead early in the race and slowly pulled away from the lead pack of runners.
East Greenwich also won the team title with 35 points, Sacred Heart Academy was second with 126 and RHAM was third with 174.
East Greenwich had four runners finish ninth or better. In addition to Fahys, Rylee Shunney was fourth (19:57), Ava Peters was eighth (20:51) and Ella Maybaum was ninth (20:54).
BOYS SMALL DIVISION (CLASS SS, S)
Immaculate came away with the team title with 71 points, Hale Ray was second with 98 and Suffield took third with 100.
Seamus Reidy led the Mustangs with a secondplace finish in 16:43 and Lorezo Lopes was ninth in 17:27.
“We came in here hoping to win the team title, but we also knew there was tough competition, especially with Hale Ray who has really been coming on strong this season,” Immaculate coach Chris Houser said. “We’re definitely not looking past anyone when we go into the Class S meet. But a win like this does give you some momentum going into the postseason, where we’ll see many tough teams.”
Griffin Mandirola of Suffield was the individual winner with a time of 16:01.
GIRLS SMALL DIVISION
Old Lyme owned this division, with freshman Chase Gilbert wining in 19:19 and taking the team title with 54 points.
“I’m very excited right now; to win the race and help my team win the title is incredible,” Gilbert said. “Our whole team did so well today. I led right from the start. I wanted to get out in front and run as hard as I could.”
Following Gilbert, Lindsey Cascio of Lewis Mills was second in 20:32 and Hazel Delucia of Lyman Memorial was third in 20:32. East Hampton was second in the team standings with 81 points and Portland was third with 106.