NCHS Cross Country Teams Finish 7th at FCIAC Championships

Both the boys and girls NCHS cross country teams finished seventh at Monday’s FCIAC Championship race at Waveny Park. And although the results looked the same on paper, they were interpreted quite differently from the respective coaches of the two squads.

“Overall thoughts…probably not happy,” boys head coach Bill Martin told NewCanaanite.com. “We had a couple of boys perform average, and it looks like we might have an injury to my top runner.”

That top runner, senior co-captain Alex Ellsworth, finished 19th overall and first for the Rams with a time of 16:34 over the 5-kilometer course, despite experiencing some pain in his rib cage during the race. As to Ellsworth’s status for Saturday’s State Championship race at Wickham Park in Manchester, Martin feels confident his star runner will fight through the injury.

“He said something happened at about a mile-and-a-half,” Martin said. “He may have strained a rib muscle, though I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet. I suspect that Alex will run; that’s just the type of kid he is. He’s a tough kid and I wouldn’t underestimate him.”

Senior co-captain Spencer Lyman clocked in at 16:41 good for 24th place overall, while sophomore Michael St. George finished in 38th at 17:20. Other New Canaan varsity finishers were junior Aidan Buck (67th, 18:10), junior Patrick Blasco (76th, 18:31), junior Ryan McGough (86th, 18:56) and sophomores Abhinav Pal (18:58, 88th) and Jake Grigsby (92nd, 19:05).

As a team, the Rams scored 209 points, well behind this year’s champion Danbury who edged Staples by one point to capture their 13th FCIAC Championship in the last 15 years. Darien’s All-American Alex Ostberg set a course record with an eye-popping 14:47 to capture the individual crown.

“The FCIAC is one heck of a tough league,” Martin said. “We have a much better chance on Saturday in the Class L’s.”

Meanwhile, girls head coach Art Brown was pleased with his team’s seventh place finish as a large contingent of underclassmen point to a bright future for the Rams.

“A lot of girls had their personal best,” Brown said. “Our goal every year is to improve as the season goes on, and we definitely did that today. We’re heading into the state meet in a good frame of mind.”

Leading the way for New Canaan – as she has all season – was freshman sensation Cali Brannan, who clocked in at 15:34 on the 4K course, good for 16th place overall.

“I think I did really well,” Brannan said. “I beat my personal best by quite a lot, and I’m proud of myself.”

Brannan finished just out of All-FCIAC 1st team consideration, as only the top 15 runners are bestowed with that honor. Undaunted, Brannan is already motivated toward achieving future goals.

“I have three more years,” Brannan said with a smile. “I’ll get it next year.”

Rounding out the New Canaan scoring was senior Emma Crowley (33rd, 16:21), sophomores Lauren Carlson (38th, 16:27), Corinne Vietorisz (47th, 16:47) and Ann Greer (55th, 16:57), junior Amanda Dobbin (56th, 16:58) and sophomores Drew Davis (60th, 17:02) and Annalee Greenspon (73rd, 17:43).

New Canaan scored 175 points, falling to overall champion Staples who won their first conference title since 1997. Wreckers junior and All-American Hannah DiBalsi was the individual winner, running a blistering 13:37 – more than one minute faster than her nearest competitor.