Country School Cross Country Teams Shine at IDS Invitational

October 1, 2026

The Country School cross-country teams traveled to Independent Day School (IDS) on October 1 for a four-school meet against Foote School, IDS, and St. John Paul II School, returning home with another outstanding set of performances. The girls extended their extraordinary unbeaten streak to 115 victories and zero losses, while the boys captured their third meet victory of the season, demonstrating the growing strength and promise of a young team.

The 3-kilometer (1.86-mile) course featured mostly grass and wooded trails, with a short stretch of driveway connecting sections of the route. It was an enjoyable setting for a competitive afternoon of racing, and the runners were quick to take advantage of the course’s natural terrain.

The Country School girls continued their remarkable run of success, scoring 23 points to defeat Foote School, which finished with 46. St. John Paul II placed third with 54 points, followed by IDS with 87.

The race began at a fast pace, and when the dust settled, Country School’s experienced leaders had established themselves at the front. Eighth-grade captains Liv Killam and Lucy Clark finished first and second, respectively, while fellow eighth-grade captain Francesca D’Andrea took fourth. Their outstanding performances gave the team a powerful start and set the stage for another convincing victory.

Killam won the race in 9:48, followed by Clark in 10:10. D’Andrea crossed the line fourth in 10:22, giving Country School three runners among the top four finishers.

Seventh-grade newcomer Greta Scotney continued her impressive season with a seventh-place finish in 11:07. Scotney is the only athlete at The Country School participating in all three sports this fall—soccer, volleyball, and cross-country—an impressive commitment that makes her performance all the more noteworthy. Her classmate and friend Lucy Sharp followed in ninth place in 11:15.

With five Country School runners finishing in the top ten, the team demonstrated both its front-running strength and its remarkable depth.

Sixth-grader Lexie Killam delivered another powerful performance, finishing 13th overall in 11:26. Fifth-grader Zoe Robinson completed the Country School lineup with an impressive 24th-place finish among 57 runners in 12:51.

Robinson’s performance included one of the day’s most memorable moments. Her astonishing finishing sprint caught the attention of spectators and demonstrated the determination and speed that make cross-country racing so exciting. Scotney also showed tremendous competitive spirit, kicking past her rivals as she powered toward the finish.

The victory extended the girls’ unbeaten streak to 115 wins and zero losses over five seasons. The current team continues to honor the legacy of the runners who established the streak, combining individual talent, determination, and teamwork to sustain a remarkable tradition of excellence.

The Country School boys continued their promising season with another impressive team performance, scoring 30 points to defeat Foote School, which finished with 40. St. John Paul II placed third with 66 points, followed by IDS with 74.

Sixth-grader Clark Pennington led the Country School charge, finishing third overall in 9:54 after a tenacious performance at the front of the race. Pennington led for the first mile, setting a strong pace and refusing to give ground against the leading runners.

His fifth-grade brother, Callum Pennington, stayed as close as he could, finishing fifth in 10:08. The two brothers pushed one another throughout the race, demonstrating both competitive determination and the advantages of racing as teammates.

Sixth-grader Luca Laurans followed in sixth place in 10:15, completing an impressive group of three Country School runners near the front of the field. Laurans produced an Olympic finishing sprint, providing one of the afternoon’s highlights.

Luke Ouellet finished eighth in 10:52, and seventh-grader Bradley Kopeiken placed ninth in 11:18. With five Country School runners finishing among the top nine, the boys demonstrated the depth and collective strength that have helped propel their young team to three victories this season.

Eighth-grader Ellery Bradstreet finished 14th in 11:38, followed by Kyle Jacobson in 24th in 12:25. Grady Wepler rounded out the Country School lineup in 28th place in 13:01.

The boys’ victory was particularly encouraging because of the youth of the team. Pennington’s determined front-running, Callum’s close pursuit, Laurans’ finishing speed, and the contributions of the rest of the lineup demonstrated the promise of a team that continues to develop with each race.

The October 1 meet offered another reminder of the strength of both Country School cross-country programs.

The girls continued an extraordinary five-season winning streak, relying on the leadership of their eighth-grade captains and the contributions of runners across several grade levels. With five finishers in the top ten, the team once again showed that its success is built on both individual excellence and collective depth.

The boys, meanwhile, earned their third victory of the season, with a determined performance from Clark Pennington and strong supporting efforts from Callum Pennington, Luca Laurans, and the rest of the lineup. Their combination of youth, speed, and teamwork suggests considerable promise for the remainder of the season and the years ahead.

As the runners continue preparing for the Connecticut middle school cross-country state championship on November 7, both teams have plenty of reasons to be encouraged.

For the girls, the challenge is to keep extending a remarkable unbeaten record. For the boys, it is to continue building on a promising season and gaining experience against strong competition.

At IDS on October 1, Country School runners once again demonstrated that cross-country success is about much more than finishing times. It is about determination, teamwork, the courage to compete, and the satisfaction of seeing hard work pay off.