A Look at Who Could Run Away with Boys and Girls Cross Country

The truth of the matter is that the long-distance runner is not only lonely but dedicated. How else an you explain improvement from one season to the next despite the fact that the summer swelter makes the very idea of going out for a hard five-mile run seem intolerable?

But summer is where championships are won. And lost. There is no telling now which teams have done the work to improve or which ones will be decimated by injuries or other unforeseen factors.

Consider Tolland’s Bryan Fowler, who finished 17th at the boys cross country State Open when he was a junior. There were three other juniors and a sophomore who finished ahead of him. But Fowler improved by 38 seconds as a senior, won the State Open and led Tolland to a team championship.

These are words worth heeding for fans of Suffield’s Daniel Moroney, who finished 15th in the State Open as a junior. Moroney had a solid outdoor track season last spring, but whether or not he is able to make the leap Fowler made is an open question.

Of course, his attempt will be even more difficult. Five juniors and two sophomores finished ahead of him in the 2011 Open, which means he has more people to pass. And it is unlikely he will have the constant pushing Fowler received from teammate Trevor Lafontaine, who finished third in the Open.

Denis LaBarre and Jimmy Clark are expected to be Suffield’s top runners behind Moroney. Both could be counted among the top half of the high school runners in the state, but neither is expected to be among the elite in the way that Lafontaine was.

Still, the trio should give Suffield reason to believe it will improve on an 18th place finish at the State Open. Moreover, there is even reason to dream about catching Tolland in Class M.

The Eagles, who lost both Fowler and Lafontaine, are not exactly bereft of talent. Matt Mensher and Ryan Possardt finished sixth and seventh at the Class M meet, which will make them a good match for Moroney and LaBarre.

After that, Tolland could be looking to Colin Sauter and Matt Snydal to support Mensher and Possardt, while Suffield will be looking for help for Connor Gates and Kevin Powell. Based on last year’s results it’s pretty much a wash, with either team capable of winning depending on how well each individual ran on a particular day.

Safe to say, the difference between the two teams this season will be whoever worked harder in the heat.

Manchester will be looking for improvement from Patrick Dibble, who finished 21st at the Class LL meet as a sophomore. The Indians will be looking for a jump in the team standings as well. Alex Woodward was their only senior last year.

E.O. Smith was hit hard by graduation, but should have juniors Zach Pittman and Jack Phillips to rely on while Windsor is expected to be anchored by Brian Miele in Class L.

Fermi has reason for optimism if Max Partyka and Robert Macon-Wells improve on strong seasons a year ago, while Cheney Tech, it’s fall season saved through legislative fiat, saw bright things from then sophomore Luke Thresher a year ago.

Enfield has experience with Jacob Burnham and talented youth with Sean Richards.

Garrett Rooke, who finished seventh in Class SS last season as a sophomore, will be expected to lead East Catholic along with Evan Cedrone.

Ellington has senior Alexander Smith, who can expect support from teammates David Bergeron, Neal Hulstein and John Ziomek.

Ryan Lynch was Somers’ top runner a year ago as a freshman.

Michael Wiggin is expected to lead Windsor Locks, which also got a boost from a freshman a year ago in Ryan Podann, while East Windsor also had a freshman sensation in Danioel Guagni. It will be interesting to see which runner builds on the solid beginning an emerges as a legitimate star as a sophomore.

The Ellington girls relied on youth a year ago but were still best among area teams, finishing 13th at the State Open. If the Knights get improvement from runners such as Jennifer Hulstein and Leah Cawthorn, they should move up that board.

E.O. Smith has Miranda Cilfone and Abby Jeffers back, while Manchester hopes to improve with runners such as Jackie Ofria and Hannah Partney.

The girls side also has some runners who made impressive debuts as freshmen. Among them were Rockville’s Shayla Schoeneberge and Melissa Champagne, who will need each other for company now that Olivia Botteron has graduated.