Stratford High Boys Cross Country Defeats Rival Bunnell
On Tuesday October 27th, the Stratford High School Boys and Girls Cross Country teams traveled across town to Bunnell High School in a South West Conference 5K cross country cross town rivalry matchup.
The entire Bunnell campus was transformed into a picturesque 5K cross country course featuring a traditional layout of multi-surface settings of a rubber track, asphalt, and grass conditions. Runners faced different ground pitches and angles in addition to two hills, one on the asphalt driveway leading up and out of the stadium, the other, an adjacent steep grass hill in a second loop around the course.
Due to Covid protection plans the annual pre-meet Red Devil and Bulldog handshake could not take place. This pre-meet gesture tradition has always been a sign of community spirit.
While the handshake could not take place, Bunnell was able to hold their senior night where master of ceremonies, Assistant Principal Frank Tatto, took to center stage, paying tribute to both school’s seniors with both teams socially distanced and lined up across from each other.
As the ceremony came to an end it was time for business and anytime these two teams meet in any sport expect the best results to come out and today was no different.
The weather cooperated with partly sunny conditions, temperatures near 60, and a light breeze out of the south. Ideal for cross country competition.
The girls were up first with both teams sending young lineups to the starting line.
Early on Bunnell’s Jocelyn Ciotti, a sophomore, and Stratford’s Jaylen Evans, a freshman, jumped out for the top spot.
Next was a combined group of Stratford and Bunnell runners holding pace heading to the one mile marker. In that group was Stratford’s Kendall Smith, a junior, and freshman Katie Coble. Staying within range was Bunnell sophomore Dannah Urban.
Moving right along and picking up the pace was Stratford freshman Isabella Pato and Bunnell seniors Morgan Reilly and Hannah Lewis.
Rounding out the top ten, Bunnell’s Madison DeRubis and Stratford’s Isabelle Cola.
At the midway point this race was still up in the air between Ciotti and Evans.
Urban moved up into the third spot followed by Smith. Pato was all alone in fifth.
Lewis in six, Reilly in seventh, DeRubis holding the eighth spot.
With one mile to go Ciotti was able to open a lead and continued to open it up, sprinting to the finish line, number one at 22:48.
Evans second at 23:25. Urban third at 23:31, Smith fourth at 24:45. Pato fifth at 24:49.
The next three finishers were Bulldogs, sixth place saw a sprint to the finish between Lewis and Reilly. With just a few feet to go Reilly slid ahead at 24:42 and Lewis at 24:43.
DeRubis eighth at 25:48.
Ninth place was Coble at 26:46 and Cola tenth at 26:47.
Stratford’s Mckenzie Moore came in at 32:36.
With the girls race winding down, both boys teams could be seen creating “energy” with their pre-meet matras in what turned out to be personal best times for members of both teams.
The girls final score, in a hard fought race, Bunnell by the narrowest of cross country margins wins 25 - 30.
Bunnell goes to 4-1 on the season. Stratford now stands at 3-3.
It was time for the boys to line up and put their rivalry excitement into motion.
Right off the start it was Bunnell senior Mario Oliva and Stratford seniors Elijah Brown and Logan Seaburg leading the charge.
Bunnell senior Jonathan Gulish, Stratford sophomore Amos Colocho and junior Joshua Kydes were in the next group.
Holding their own was Stratford’s James Bragg-Phillips, Bunnell’s Vincezo Fabrizio, and Stratford’s Ryan Munoz.
In the top ten was Stratford’s Jelani Warburton Baker and Bunnell’s Raeshawn Hasty-Pettway.
Race strategy took over as Oliva got stronger going into the midway point. He expanded his lead over, now in second place, Seaburg, followed by Brown.
Attention turned to the end of the driveway downhill portion where Gulish fell and was in obvious pain. He suffered a lower body injury. Early reports are, he will be out for a short period of time.
Colocho moved into the fourth spot with Kydes in fifth.
Fabrizio, and a surprise in the race Bragg-Phillips, were sixth and seventh.
Eighth and ninth were held down by Stratford’s, Munoz and Warburton Baker.
Tenth was Hasty-Pettway.
Oliva in a powerful fashion took the top spot at 16:55. Oliva achieved a personal best time with the accomplishment.
Seaburg, in his personal best, second at 18:01
Brown third at 18:31
Colocho, his best personal time, at 18:55 in fourth.
Kydes fifth at 19:52
Fabrizio sixth at 20:20
Sealing a victory for his team, in his personal best time, Bragg-Phillips at 20:39.
Munoz eighth at 21:00
Warburton Baker ninth at 21:56
Hasty-Pettway tenth at 22:44
Rounding out the Stratford finishers were Drilon Nasufi at 29:26 and Jonathan DaSilva at 31:19.
Stratford improves to 5-1 on the season. Bunnell falls to 2-3.
Up next for Stratford, Friday October 30th at Wooster Middle School, versus Notre Dame-Fairfield and Kolbe Cathedral.
This article originally appeared on the Stratford Patch
