Members of the boys cross-country team at Glastonbury High School competed in Maine late last month.
The boys cross-country team at Glastonbury High School recently traveled to Maine, competing in the Festival of Champions on Sept. 30. Head coach Mark Alexander said the team used the lengthy road trip as both preparation for the upcoming championship season and as an opportunity for a young team to bond. As he has done all season, sophomore Crawford Cauthen led the group of Guardians by placing 23rd overall with a time of 16:29 at the three-mile Course in Belfast, ME. Alexander said that Cauthen showcased a lot of “natural ability” as an all-conference freshman runner last fall and has parlayed that into a successful sophomore campaign thanks to his continued emphasis on logging miles throughout the offseason “Last year he did awesome with very little training and he ran three days a week [in the winter],” added Alexander. “He continued that through the summer — he’s going to do great things.” After graduating a strong senior class a year ago that featured standout runners Harrison Krause and Dominic Pena, Alexander knew it would be a bit of a rebuilding year with a varsity team chalked full of fresh, yet inexperienced legs. Junior captain Raza Malik was second GHS runner to cross the finish line in Maine, posting a time of 16:49 to place 36th overall. Malik said the entire trip to Vacationland brought the team closer together. “It was definitely a new experience, but one a great one,” added Malik. “It was great for team bonding and was really enjoyable.” Malik is captaining the team with fellow junior Robbie Caruso and senior Jace Lewis. Alexander noted it is the “best group of captains” he has had at GHS, adding that the trio soaked in everything that Krause, Pena and the other seniors bestowed upon them last fall. And their times have reflected it. When Malik and Caruso were freshmen in 2021, they were posting times of 30 and 26 minutes, respectively. Two years later, the two have each shaved over 10 minutes off their finishing times. Caruso said that being part of the cross-country team has changed him both physically and mentally. “I came in my freshman year not knowing anything. I was unfit, I was awful, and I knew no one in high school,” added Caruso “I truly don’t know what I would do without this team. It is something that is a part of me and will always be a part of me until I graduate or even past graduation.” Lewis, who also excels as a sprinter for the track and field teams at GHS, is one of only three four-year runners on the roster. He has used that experience to help mentor the younger runners on the local courses. “Cross-country has a unique advantage compared to the other sports because we are all one team,” stated Lewis. “We all run together. There is not a varsity or junior varsity at practice, which allows us to have a more connective feel. That is something that I am going to miss, everyone is equal.” With several new runners and not a single senior competing in varsity races, Alexander said the trip to Maine and the pending championship season will only pay dividends for the future of the program. “It’s a new team and anything they do this year it just extra,” added Alexander. “With each of these races they are getting valuable experience.” Competing in Maine was also refreshing for a team that has had several meets cancelled or postponed because of the wet and uncertain weather that has hit Connecticut over the last month. Even the annual Wickham Invitational, scheduled to take place this past weekend, was cancelled because of unfit course conditions. But in the meets the Guardians have had, they have fared quiet well. They opened the season by placing fifth out of the 20 teams as a team at the 34th Wilton Invitational on Sept 9. Cauthen (8th) and Malik (9th) placed in the top ten out of the 163 runners that participated. Cauthen then finished first at the tri-meet with Hall and Southington, running a 15:11 at Southington High School on Sept. 26. Sophomore Samuel Hageman (15:28) placed third and Malik (15:33) placed fifth as the Guardians took three of the top five spots. Malik said having Cauthen set the pace has made the entire team better, adding, “It’s really helpful, Crawford is what we are all trying to shoot for.” The team is slated to have their final home meet this Friday, Oct. 13, welcoming Conard and Northwest Catholic to JB Williams Park for a race at 4 p.m. It will be the last chance for the seniors to compete on their home course and Lewis admitted he is feeling a bit of nostalgia Caruso said he is thankful for the senior class and the previous one, adding, “It really is a second family. We truly care for each other.” Next up is the championship season, kicking off with the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Championship, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct 17 (4 p.m.) at Wickham Park in Manchester.
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AuthorSports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin Archives
April 2024
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