- Details
- Category: Current Issue
Cross country
team on fire
On a picture perfect day for running, the Pomfret School boys’ cross country team traveled to Worcester Academy to race the host, Cushing, Dexter Southfield (DS), and Wilbraham & Monson Academy (WMA). Dexter was a surprise addition to the field which made for a great and competitive five-team meet. The course at NB Fields is essentially three loops that traverse the playing fields and an up and down tricky trail in the woods. DS and WMA had good speed. The Griffins had beaten Cushing and Worcester once before, Worcester had also beaten them. To make prospects more interesting, Cole Hecker - often a top 5 finisher for Pomfret was out with an injury.
Dexter’s #1 sprung to the lead with two WMA runners and a Worcester runner on his heels. Jeffrey Gibbs — as we’ve gotten used to this season — hung back to size up the leaders. Blake Zahansky, who’s been running well of late, stuck with Gibbs. There was a sizable pack of Worcester, DS, and a few Cushing rabbits before Cam Adams, Kellen Horst, and Cooper Ames rumbled by. Ian Wolanin, Jack Terwilliger, Alex Chen, and Kevin Li all ran hard and smart first miles, biding their time and finding a good rhythm. Rounding out roster were Jacob Marsco, Danny Wang, Terry Kim, David Wu, Bill Tian, and Ben Gordon.
After the first woods loop Gibbs had moved into a 50-meter lead, and Zahansky was running around 6th. Cam had slid further up the ranks, as had Cooper, and Kellen. Ian also moved up, while Jack, Alex, and Kevin all were in a pack vying for a top 7 team finish. Runners then made their way back into the woods for their 2nd loop.
Unfortunately, it was then that David Wu took a hard fall in the woods on a tricky downslope, spraining an ankle and ripping up his other knee on the loose rocks (he will be OK) After the third woods loop, we waited to see the racers emerge for the final time and watch the 100-meter sprint to the finish line. Gibbs had, by then, fully separated himself from the competition and crossed the line for another outright win and a new PR of 17:31 (5:38/mi. pace). DS was next, followed by two WMA runners. Worcester took the next two slots and Blake was next, 7th overall. At this point, it was still anyone’s race. However, when DS took the next three spots in a row, 8, 9, 10, they were in the driver’s seat. Worcester took 11th, with Cam Adams taking a strong 12th place, but then WMA took the next three spots, making it very tough for Pomfret to beat them.
Kellen put in a valiant effort, set a new PR, and finished in 16th place. When DS took 17th, they sealed their win. Pomfret’s fifth finisher, Cooper Ames, ran as well as he has in several weeks, but couldn’t outpace a few other runners to nudge Pomfret ahead of WMA.
However the Griffins did just enough to beat Worcester by 2 points and Cushing by a significant margin. Ian Wolanin set another PR, his second one in two races, and for the first time this season, Kevin Li finished in the varsity 7. Alex Chen also scored a new PR and was the top JV finisher. He was followed by Jack, Danny, Terry (PR by one second!), Jacob, Bill, and Ben.
It was the last regular season race of the year. Nov. 9 the team travels to Litchfield to finish the season at the NEPSTA Div. III Championship.
By David Ring
..