New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Shelton’s Andrejczyk and Cheshire score upsets at SCC championships
NEW HAVEN — It was a day of upsets in the girls varsity race at the Southern Connecticut Conference cross country championships at East Shore Park on Wednesday.
Shelton’s Hannah Andrejczyk surprised even herself, sporting a wide smile as she crossed the finish line first in 18:37.90 over the 3.06-mile course. She beat defending champion Alexa Ciccone of Cheshire, who was second in 18:44. Kelly Jones of Lauralton Hall was third in 18:58.50 and Anna Omelchenko of Wilbur Cross was fourth in 19:16.
Cheshire showcased its depth to win the team title with 64 points. The Rams snapped Guilford’s string of five straight team titles. The Grizzlies were second with 125 points, Wilbur Cross third with 125 and Sacred
Heart Academy fourth with 133.
Andrejczyk ran with a pack of four runners most of the race and with about a mile to go decided to make a move to take the lead.
“This is so unexpected,” Andrejczyk said. “The SCC has a strong group of runners and coming into this race I thought maybe I could finish in the top five. I thought they would be going faster than what they were in the middle of the race, but I was able to maintain the pace. I held
the pace, and with about 800 meters to go, I felt strong enough to make a move and take the lead.
“At that point, I just ran as hard as I could the rest of the way. These girls are strong runners and I never felt I had the win in hand until I crossed the finish line. This is a great feeling”
The Rams have a young team, but coach Rob Schaefer believed his team had the potential to win the title.
After Ciccone, teammates Emily D’Souza was eighth in 20:06, Mia Vientos was ninth in 20:11, Eva Curran was 23rd in 21:32.90 and Ava Ciccone, Alexa Ciccone’s sister, was 24th in 21:35 to seal the title for the Rams.
“I am so happy, our girls worked hard for this,” Schaefer said. “I knew we had the talent and potential. What really was the key for us was our No. 4 and No. 5 runners. Eva Curran and Ava Ciccone really came through for us big time today. They had to in order for us to win the title going up against teams like Guilford and Sacred Heart Academy.
“I love winning team titles because it is a reflection of how hard the entire team works. I do feel for Alexa Ciccone because I know how much she wanted to win this race. Hannah Andrejczyk is such a strong runner and she has been improving all season. I am not surprised she ran a big race today.”
At the end of the meet, Schaefer was named SCC girls cross country coach of the year and Xavier coach Chris Stonier, whose team won the boys varsity team title, was named the SCC boys cross country coach of the year.