New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Zydanowicz, Anderson sweep for Hall
MANCHESTER — It was an all-Warrior show at the 35th Wickham Invitational Saturday as Hall swept the day by winning the boys and girls championship races.
They couldn’t have unfolded any differently, however.
Shortly after senior Jenna Zydanowicz (18:45) won by nearly a minute, classmate Miller Anderson (16:04) edged Conard’s Gavin Sherry (16:04) by less than a second to make it a sweep. Anderson narrowly outkicked the freshman standout, pulling ahead only in the final strides.
“I was just giving it my all obviously and I knew it was going to be tough when I got close to him,” Anderson said. “One of my teammates every race yells at me my 800 PR and when I hear that I know nobody in the field is faster in the 800 than me and I should be able to outkick anyone. I started kicking and he had something back.”
The pair finished 13 seconds ahead of Concord (Mass.) runner Forest Mackenzie, pushing each other to a stellar time.
Glastonbury’s girls won the team title with 68 points, just ahead of Danbury (77). Trumbull was third with 94 points. The Tomahawks placed three runners — Casey MacElhiney, Angela Braga and Grace Sparrow — in the top eight.
Zydanowicz took an early advantage and was left to pace herself through most of the undulating course. Her time was quicker than last year’s winning mark.
“You really have to have a positive mentality because you don’t want to slow down, but you know you have to keep a good tempo and stay positive the whole race,” Zydanowicz said. “It’s a good point in the season to have a boost in self-confidence knowing you’re in a good place for the championship races.”
Greenwich sophomore Mari Noble finished second in 19:36, while Danbury’s Lauren Moore finished third in 19:38 and Trumbull’s Alessandra Zaffina made it a 2-3-4 for the FCIAC in 19:54. Immaculate’s Taylor Mascetta finished seventh in 20:15 while New Fairfield’s Hazel Hudson finished ninth (20:26).
Noble and Moore ran neckand-neck down the stretch in a tight battle for the runner-up spot.
“I felt pretty good. I went out pretty fast, but it was hard because it was a small race,” Moore said. “You have to stay in the zone. There were a few muddy patches where you feel yourself hit a wall.”
Shelton’s Robert Dillon took fourth in 16:20. Anderson’s win helped lead Hall to a fourth-place finish as a team.
The biggest upset came in the team race where Xavier (130 points) placed third behind winners Concord (Mass.) (104) and runners-up Tolland (125). The Falcons were without Robbie Cozean, who was nursing a foot injury. Peter Schulten took sixth while Dillon Selfors was eighth (16:37) to lead Xavier. Falcons freshman Noah San Vicente won the JV race in 17:36.
“Eamon Burke ran a 17:25 as our fourth guy and it was big for Noah to win the JV race,” Xavier coach Chris Stonier said. “We were without (Cozean); we want to make sure he’s healthy and today showed that we absolutely need him in our lineup. In regards to our training, we are in a good spot.”
The CCC will hold its conference championship at the course in addition to all the Class and State Open races that will take place in the coming weeks.