Boys and girls cross country competed in their first meet of the season on Saturday, September 7th, at the Stratton Brook Invitational Meet in Simsbury, Connecticut.
Runners met at the track parking lot early Saturday morning to catch the bus to Stratton Brook State Park. The morning was cool and cloudy, perfect conditions for running.
Junior Varsity races were scheduled first with Boys JV and Girls JV races at around 9:00, and Boys Varsity and Girls Varsity after 10:00.
The Stratton Brook course, however, is a notoriously difficult race location with multiple steep hills throughout the route. Roots and uneven ground along the route also make it difficult to stay on your feet.
“I’m incredibly proud of the team as Stratton is without a doubt one of the hardest courses; however, the team managed to stay positive and not let the course bring down their spirit and each individual did a fantastic job persevering through the rough spots,” junior captain Olivia Stoner said.
Despite the challenges on the course, South Windsor cross country saw some notable performances, as sophomore Rachel Matyschsyk and freshman Charvi Dixon-Islur both placed in the top 20 runners in Girls Varsity and Girls JV races, respectively.
Additionally, the day after the Stratton Brook Invitational, the South Windsor 5-Mile Road Race took place. The lengthy course started and ended in Rye Street Park, passing Eli Terry Elementary School and the Wapping Fairgrounds on the way. The race is a big fundraiser for SWHS cross country team’s booster club, and team members were stationed along the course to direct and cheer on race participants.
It’s an exciting week coming up for SWHS cross country as they gear up to host the Harry Geraghty Invitational Meet at Nevers Park this Friday, 9/13. Stop by the park after school to cheer on the teams and support their fundraisers!
