The Country School Cross Country Teams at Wickham Invitational

October 10, 2026 | Wickham Park, Manchester, Connecticut The Country School’s cross country teams turned in a series of outstanding performances at the Wickham Invitational on October 10, with the girls finishing second among 10 Connecticut schools and the boys placing sixth among Connecticut teams. Both results offered encouraging signs as the runners prepare for the Connecticut state championships on November 7. The invitational brought together many of the state’s strongest middle school runners, including several close rivals whom Country School will face again at the state championships. The meet provided a valuable opportunity to measure progress against top competition on one of Connecticut’s most demanding cross country courses. Girls Finish Second in Connecticut Leading the way for Country School was eighth grader and co-captain Liv Killam, who finished second overall and first among Connecticut runners in a personal-record time of 10:54 for the 3-kilometer course. Only a runner from Rhode Island finished ahead of her. Killam’s performance was particularly impressive given the difficulty of the Wickham Park course, which features two formidable hills, challenging uphill and downhill running, and a punishing final 400-meter uphill sprint to the finish. Country School co-captain Lucy Clark followed with an outstanding performance of her own. Clark finished sixth among Connecticut runners in 11:24, establishing a personal record on the Wickham course. Seventh grader Greta Scotney, who also competes in soccer and volleyball for Country School, continued to demonstrate her versatility and determination. Scotney finished 26th overall out of approximately 100 runners in 12:32, recording a personal best on the course. Sixth grader Emerson Freeman was next for Country School, finishing 47th in 13:11 and earning another personal record. Seventh grader Lucy Sharp followed in 55th place with a time of 13:18, also establishing a personal record on the challenging course. Rounding out the Country School girls was sixth grader Lexie Killam, who had been battling a cold but persevered for her team. Killam finished 66th in 14:00, demonstrating the determination and team commitment that are hallmarks of Country School cross country. With strong performances from runners across several grade levels, the girls’ second-place finish among Connecticut schools demonstrated both the team’s depth and its potential heading into the state championships. Boys Finish Sixth in Connecticut The Country School boys also delivered an encouraging performance, finishing sixth among Connecticut schools in a field featuring many experienced competitors. Before the race, Co-Coach John Fixx had told the boys that a top-10 finish among Connecticut schools would be an encouraging accomplishment for this young team. Their sixth-place result exceeded that benchmark and provided a strong foundation for continued improvement. Clark Pennington led the Country School boys, finishing 30th in a personal-record time of 11:30. He was followed by Callum Pennington, who placed 35th in 11:36. Luca Laurans, another sixth grader, continued the team’s impressive day by finishing 51st in 11:48, establishing a personal record on the Wickham course. Sixth grader Luke Oulette also recorded a personal best, finishing 68th in 12:22. Rounding out the Country School boys was Bradley Kopeiken, who finished 82nd in 12:38, earning another personal record. The boys’ sixth-place finish was especially promising given the youth of the team. With several runners gaining valuable experience against strong competition, the result suggests that the team is making meaningful progress as the season approaches its conclusion. Building Toward November 7 Wickham Park is a demanding test for any middle school cross country runner. Its two formidable hills challenge runners on both the ascents and descents, while the course’s final 400 meters require a sustained uphill sprint when tired legs are already being pushed to their limits. For Country School, the meet was about more than finishing places. Personal records from runners on both teams demonstrated the progress being made through consistent training, determination, and teamwork. With several of their closest Connecticut rivals competing at Wickham, the Country School runners also gained valuable experience ahead of their next major challenge: the state championships on November 7. The girls have established themselves among Connecticut’s strongest teams, while the boys have shown that their youth need not prevent them from competing successfully against more experienced opponents. Both teams now have an opportunity to build on their Wickham performances and carry that momentum into the final weeks of the season.