Owls Soar in Season Opener: Country School Cross Country Sweeps First Meet

The Country School Owls stormed into their first full-team cross country meet of the 2025 fall season and came away with a clean sweep — girls and boys both capturing decisive victories on the rolling, rugged course at Williams School. Despite splitting athletes between cross country and a coed soccer contest back home, the Owls proved their depth, toppling host Williams, St. Bernard’s, and OLM in dominant fashion.

 

The girls squad, long a powerhouse in state running, preserved their unbeaten dual meet streak (now stretching to well over a hundred meets) with a commanding score of 16 points, far ahead of St. Bernard’s (67), OLM (68), and Williams (70). The boys followed suit with a 28-point win, besting OLM (58), St. Bernard’s (64), and Williams (70).

 

The day itself was a spectacle: a warm afternoon sun shining over a course that began with a downhill sprint into the woods before throwing athletes into a brutal mountain climb and a punishing uphill finish around two soccer fields. Fans lined the course — parents, siblings, grandparents, and classmates cheering every step — making the Owls’ triumph even sweeter.

 

On the girls’ side, it was a Country School podium sweep.

 

• Liv Killam and her close friend and training partner Maddie Staib ran shoulder to shoulder nearly the entire way, until Killam surged in the final 800 meters to seize gold in 11:15. Staib followed with a brilliant 11:18 for silver.

• Seventh grader Lucy Clark stormed in at 12:08, earning bronze and locking down the top three places for the Owls.

• Fifth-grade sensation Lexie Killam wasn’t far behind, clocking 13:08 to secure the crucial fourth stick, with Jonah Bento delivering the fifth scoring position to seal the victory.

 

Depth made the difference: Nora Morris and Steph DeLucca pushed hard to displace rivals from every other school, tightening the team’s scoring stranglehold.

 

The boys’ race delivered its own fireworks. Henry Laurans turned in a performance for the ages, blazing the 1.7-mile course in 9:45 — a time already being reviewed as a potential course record. He was followed by teammate Tash F. in 12:11, a gritty effort that kept the Owls’ scoring strong.

 

Sixth graders Harper Merrill (12:46) and Jake (12:53) packed tightly, showing poise beyond their years, while newcomer Clark Pennington rounded out the top five scorers in his first official race.

 

Fifth grader and Junior Olympian Luke Colette turned heads with a dazzling 13:19 on a technical course that chewed up older athletes, while Sam Gagliardi turned in another steady, clutch performance to keep rival schools at bay. Behind them, the Owls’ younger depth shone through: Bradley ran an impressive 13:24 in his debut, Jack finished 32nd overall, Ben 33rd, and Arlo gutted it out for 49th place, running wire-to-wire with determination.

 

After the races, athletes cooled down with snacks provided by parents, replaying every stride and hill attack while already eyeing the next test.

 

That test will come quickly. The Owls host their own Country School Invitational on Tuesday, welcoming nine visiting programs to Madison in what promises to be one of the largest meets of the season. With momentum on their side — and the girls’ historic unbeaten streak still intact — the Owls will be flying high into their home course showdown.