RHAM Boys XC Hitting Stride

Boys’ cross-country at RHAM High School celebrated Senior Day by defeating East Hartford (15-50) and South Windsor (15-47) on Sept. 27.
           
It was the team’s third win in four meets and a positive sign for a program that is trending in the right direction. 
           
Following the graduation of 2021-standout Liam Calhoun—who is now running at Wesleyan University— head coach Paul Steiner knew he had an uphill battle this fall.
           
“It’s a different story this year. We don’t have that ace at the top like Liam last year, so we have to run in packs,” said Steiner, who is in his sixth year with the program and fourth as the head coach.
           
What Steiner does have is a solid squad from top to bottom that he called a “really gritty group.” 
           
Leading the pack is junior Troy Miller, who won the Senior Day meet by posting a time of 18:10 and crossing the finishing line over a minute ahead of the runner-up. 
           
Miller’s victory marked the first time in over three years that someone other than Calhoun had won a race for the program. 
           
“Since I was a freshman I have been the second runner behind Liam, so for the past two years I’ve been watching and learning from him,” said Miller, who also excels at soccer and is a standout basketball player for the school. “I knew it was my time to step up.”
           
The Raptors took the top five spots at the home meet. Following Miller were Konrad Jandzinski (19:13), Samuel Fortin (19:31), Jack Olbrias (19:31), and Ryan Heneghan (19:43).
           
Heneghan is the team’s captain and one of four seniors on the roster. He is the only one of the seniors who has run cross-country all four years in high school and Steiner referred to him as an “exceptional leader.”
           
“We have to be more of a team this year. Everyone plays a role,” said Heneghan. “We’re starting to pick it up going into the championship season.”
           
Joining Heneghan in the senior mentorship role are Jandzinski, Josh Gauthier, and Matthew Bogdan.  
           
Jandzinski only joined the team last fall and has improved significantly over the past 12 months, knocking nearly four minutes off of his race times.
           
He credited last year’s graduating class, calling them “great role models”, and said the entire program is welcoming. 
           
“We are all very supportive and we all try to get each other to do better,” added Jandzinski, who improved his cardio over the summer by joining a swim team.
           
Gauthier is in his third year with the program and finished 9th at the Senior Day race, running a time of 20:28.
           
“I’ve come to call all of my teammates friends rather than teammates,” said Gauthier. “When we come out here we compete as a team and I always want to push them as hard as I can, because I want my friends to succeed and my team to succeed.” 
           
Bogdan, a first-year cross country runner, ran a 21:37 to finish 15th overall out of 60 runners between the three schools. Prior to this fall, Bogdan had participated in track at the school and wanted to give cross-country a whirl. 
           
“Since it’s my last year of high school I decided to go out. Plus my friends influenced me to do it and I’ve enjoyed it ever since,” Bogdan said of his decision to join the program. “It’s the team experience that has allowed us to do so well.” 
           
Miller, Fortin, Olbrias, Jacob Coates (7th), Eli Spinelli (14th), and freshman Brayden Kelly (17th) were the non-seniors that shined during Senior Day.
           
Olbrias, a sophomore, is a fast rushing star that Steiner said the team calls “Lion Heart” because of his never give up attitude.
           
Steiner also credited his assistant coaches Mark Logan and Ethan Spinelli with helping train the runners, who he said have taken the coaching and ran with it. 
           
“It’s an enjoyable group of kids. They work hard every single day. They give their best every day and I can’t ask for anything more,” said Steiner. “If we work hard between now and then and run to our capabilities we could make some noise in the state tournament.”
           
The Class MM championship will take place at Wickham Park on Saturday, Oct. 29. 
           
For Heneghan, the next month will put a wrap on a four year cross-country journey at RHAM.
           
“It’s crazy how fast it has gone by,” said Heneghan. “I’m going to miss it and I’m going to miss being with these guys.”