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10/21/2017 12:00 AMThe Haddam-Killingworth cross country program has developed into a dynasty in recent years as its boys’ and girls’ teams have both recorded top-notch performances during the regular season and the postseason. Following last week’s Shoreline Conference Championship, it’s clear that the 2017 campaign is proving no exception for the Cougars.
The H-K boys’ team finished with a 16-0 record this fall to go undefeated for the fourth year in a row, having compiled a dual-meet record of 62-0 since 2014. The girls’ team went 15-0 for its third straight undefeated season, going 45-0 in that stretch. At the Shoreline Conference Championship, both Cougars’ squads walked away with their respective conference crowns by delivering some great times at Old Lyme High School on Oct. 20. The boys’ team has now won 11 conference titles overall, four in a row, and seven in the last eight years. For the girls, this marks their fourth Shoreline Conference title and third in a row.
The H-K boys posted a total team time of 1 hour, 27 minutes, 57 seconds to score 18 points and finish ahead of second-place Old Saybrook, which scored 84 points with a time of 1:34.41. Senior tri-captain Andrew Meredith won the boys’ race for H-K by setting a new course record of 17 minutes.
“Today was such a great way to validate all the hard work we put in from the beginning of the summer to now. From top to bottom, we are like a family, and it’s just a lot of fun to get to big races like this and come together and run well,” said Meredith. “There’s a lot of talent in the Shoreline Conference, so I was focused on securing a low place for us. It was great to win the race and even better to watch my teammates closely follow.”
Meredith’s senior tri-captain teammate Jonah Spector finished with a mark of 17:22 to take second place at Shorelines. Joining them in the top seven were senior Dan Schumann in third (17:25), senior Conor McCabe in fifth (17:47), and senior tri-captain Kurt Sodergren in seventh place (18:23). Also placing for H-K were juniors Seth Freeman (13th, 18:46) and Kyle Criscuolo (15th, 18:52). Meredith, Spector, Schumann, McCabe, and Sodergren made the All-Shoreline Conference First Team by finishing in the top 10, while Freeman and Criscuolo were Second Team honorees by cracking the top 20.
“We were coming off of a strong year last season for both teams. We graduated some seniors, but we knew we had potential going into this year, and we also had some nice freshmen that have come into the mix,” said Matt Diglio, who is head coach of both the boys’ and girls’ teams. “I was happy with the performances here. For the boys, we knew if we ran our race that it wouldn’t be close. For the girls, it wasn’t our best race, but they came away with the victory, and I couldn’t be happier or prouder.”
The girls ran a collective time of 1:49.06 to tally 45 points and outpace runner-up Old Saybrook (67 points, 1:51.35). Senior tri-captain Kelsey D’Amico won the race in a time of 20 minutes and 53 seconds over second-place runner Liv DiStefano of East Hampton (21:01). Additionally, senior Julianne Kelly was eighth overall (21:44), following her in ninth was senior Grace Lindell (21:49), senior tri-captain Lexie Bouthillier finished 12th (22:09), junior Emma Anziano was 15th (22:31), freshman Meara Bodak came in 20th (23:07), and senior tri-captain Maggie Fisher raced to 26th place at 23:33.
“We really wanted to go out there and show how hard we have worked this season, as well as come together and race as an entire team one last time,” said D’Amico. “This win has been one of our goals all season and, with five seniors this year, we wanted it so badly. We’ve now won Shorelines three years in a row, which is something that has never been done by an H-K girls’ cross country team. We went out there and ran for each other. Grace Lindell always says, ‘Run with heart,’ before races, and we couldn’t have done a better job of that today.”
D’Amico, Kelly, and Lindell earned spots on the All-Shoreline First Team. Bouthillier, Anziano, and Bodak made the Second Team for H-K.
“I tried to run a tactical race. I worked really hard on the hills, which I think was a key for the course,” D’Amico said. “I love competing and am just happy to be racing again after being out for most of my outdoor season last year with stress fractures and struggling with my anemia through much of my junior year. I was excited to be able to win with my teammates and coaches, who are my closest friends and biggest role models.”
Coach Diglio said that D’Amico and her fellow captains each bring something different to the table in terms of their leadership skill set.
“They are all terrific leaders in their own way,” Diglio said. “Kelsey is one of the best leaders I’ve ever had. She is hard working and an extension of me as a coach. Maggie is someone the younger girls can go to. Lexie is fun and is always having a good time and lighting up spirits. Kurt is phenomenal and does whatever is asked of him. Andrew leads by example, because he’s a great runner and the kids see how hard he works.”
The Cougars also saw an incredible showing in the boys’ JV race by earning the top 16 places behind Matt Jennings (17:57), Alex Inkel (18:24), Michael Callis (19:26), Christian Uzwiak (19:38), Luke Sodergren (19:43), Bradley Rakowski (19:43), Owen Howes (19:46), Fisher Harris (19:48), Nate Petras (19:55), Sean Rutledge (20:00), Julian Spector (20:01), Max Cozean (20:04), Tuckerman Wink (20:05), Griffin Robinson (20:08), Nate Carlson (20:16), and Alex Twachtman (20:17).
For girls’ JV race, Julia Callis took first for H-K with a time of 24:06, teammate Ava Lindell was the runner-up (25:00), and Alex Zupan finished fourth (25:39).
“I was very happy with our JV squads,” Coach Diglio said. “We’ve never had all of our guys finish in the top 16, and I’ve never seen anything like that in my time with the sport.”
Next up for both teams is the Class SS State Championship at Wickham Park in New Britain on Saturday, Oct. 28. The girls’ race is slated for a 3:10 p.m. start, with the boys’ race at 3:45.
“States are big on our goal board. For the boys, we will be one of the favorites going in, and we’re hoping to bring home the fourth straight title,” said Diglio. “On the girls’ side, we will see some challenges from Old Saybrook and Canton. We’re just taking things one meet at a time.”