By Senior Correspondent Marty Ogden, Editing and Graphics by Ron Knapp

36th Wilton XC Invitational Should be the First Real Test

At Allen's Meadows, Wilton CT with AthleticNet Live Results from Paynes Corner Timing

While last weekend saw many teams compete in “rust buster” meets, it seems like most of the rest of the state is opening up this weekend after a couple of weeks of training. Highlighting the weekend will be the 36th Annual Wilton Invitational, held at Allen's Meadows. The girls race will be particularly strong with six of the top ten teams in the Marathon Sports CT High School Coach's XC Preseason Poll scheduled to compete which should give fans an inside look at which teams are living up to their potential in this early season meet.

Glastonbury, the top ranked team in the poll and the defending State Open champions, will face off against Greenwich, the Class LL defending champions. Coaches were split over which team has better returners with both teams receiving six, first place votes and only one point separating both teams. Trumbull, Staples and New Canaan are the 4th, 6th and 7th ranked teams and Cheshire, the 9th ranked team is also entered. Last year Footlocker All American Brooke Strauss broke the meet record, running 13:45.71 for 4000m last year. That record might be challenged as Lyme-Old Lyme's Chase Gilbert, another Footlocker finalist and top returner from the Open who is expected to toe the line. A pair of sophomores, Lauren Parrett of Glastonbury and Sophie Passalacqua of Greenwich are the next two returners from last year's State Open and have shown great progress throughout their freshman years are also scheduled to compete. Staples is also sending All New England 3200m runner Sarah Bogdan who should be among the leaders. 

The boys field is expected to have Greenwich, Staples and Amity the 4th, 5th and 10th ranked team in the state according to the Preseason Coaches Poll. Greenwich may miss some runners due to the SATs this weekend and that begs the question, who else might be taking the test this weekend? That will certainly throw things for a loop. It took Soheib Dissa running a course record of 15:26.29 to defeat NXN qualifier Alex Fisher last year. Fisher of Loomis Chaffee isexpected to return and he will face several other of CT's top boy runners lining up against each other on Saturday. Brunswick in Greenwich is sending a couple of other prep school runners. Nathan Lee was 15th at the Running Lane Cross Country Championships and was a Footlocker qualifier. Teddy Hojlo was a sub 9:10 2 miler last year as a sophomore. Amity's Luke Cushing is the next returner from last year's Invitational and was 2nd at the State Open. Alex Medina, the New England 1000m champion from Hamden should keep things close along with Brookfield's Landon Wall who was 24th at the Open last year. This will also be Joe Deluise's cross country debut. The Oxford senior was 3rd at the State Open in the 3200m last spring and even has a 15:05 5k to his credit during indoor track. If he can handle the grass and the roots, he should be a factor as well. 

Brien McMahon and UConn alumni Eric van der Els will be on hand to give out the awards. He was and Olympic Trials finalist in the 5000m and recently finished 13th at the USATF National 20k Championships in the New Haven Road Race.

13th Connecticut River Valley Invitational

Cromwell HS, Cromwell, CT - AthleticNet Meet Information

This lightning fast course attracts teams and individuals who want to set a big PR for the 5000m distance. Avon boys, ranked 9th in the CT Coaches poll, has already had a couple of races and lost a close dual meet to CCC rival Hall and finished 2nd to Southington, another CCC school at the Stratton Brook Invitational. Griswold, the Class SS runner-up last year, returns their top five and will challenge for the win. The Wolverines have Tycen LaBelle who is the 2nd fastest returner from the State Open last year and Avon has Brahm Bulow who has already won two races for the Falcons and will be looking for another win. 

On the girls side, Lyman Memorial is the only team ranked top ten in the CT Coaches Poll. They won the Stratton Brook Invitational small school race and have a very solid top four runners. The Bulldogs are led by Hazel DeLucia who was top ten in the Open last year and also earned All New England. Alexa Nunez of Wethersfield has already won four races this season including the Blue Dragon Invitational. Lilyana Markavich of Lakeview had a monster summer and ran 18:39.34 for 5000m on the track at the end of July at the Manchester Running Company Track & Field Series. 

Marathon Sports of Glastonbury will be on site at the meet with gear for purchase or to just get advice on how to better equip them for the remainder of the season. Be sure to stop by to say hello!

42nd Haddad Windham Invitational

Windham HS, Willimantic, CT - AthleticNet Meet Information

The 42nd Haddad Windham Cross Country Invitational is set to make its comeback after a five-year break caused by COVID-19 and school construction. This event was once among Connecticut's largest early-season meets, and its organizers now face the challenge of rebuilding its participant base. The final lineup for the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman races is available on the AthleticNet Meet Info site.

Somers Big Red Invitational

Somers HS, Somers, NY - AthleticNet Live Results from Fulton Automatic Timing

Several Connecticut teams will be traveling out of state. Haddam-Killingworth boys and girls are a Class S powerhouse and Immaculate and Danbury are also scheduled to attend. 

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