Country School Girls Dominate at 12th Annual Invitational; Boys Take Second with Record-Breaking Run

The Country School girls’ cross-country team left no doubt at the 12th Annual Country School Invitational, held yesterday on the school’s scenic 3K (1.86-mile) course. Running under perfect fall skies—74°, a light breeze, and freshly mown grass—the Owls demolished the competition, winning the team title with a near-perfect score of 20 points and extending their unbeaten streak to 103 wins and no losses. The next closest team, Foote, tallied 66, followed by St. John Paul at 69, Hamden Hall at 104, Our Lady of Mercy at 155, Hopkins at 159, Elm City at 188, and Independent Day School at 208.

 

Girls’ Team on Fire

 

Leading the charge was eighth-grade captain Maddie Staib, who finished second overall in 12:08, one of the fastest times ever recorded on the home course. Teammate Liv Killam was right on her heels in third at 12:25, also cracking the school’s all-time leaderboard.

 

They were followed by a trio of stars: Veronica Schmid (13:08), Quinn Freeman (13:26), and Lucy Clark (13:33), giving Country School an incredible five runners in the top ten. Fifth-grader Lexie Killam continued her breakout season by taking 10th overall, earning the final individual trophy.

 

Rounding out the top finishers were seventh-grade newcomer Francesca D’Andrea (11th), eighth-grader Oakley Milligan (15th), fifth-grade dynamo Emerson Freeman (19th), and steady finishers Emily Antman and Jonah Benton, who crossed in 24th and 25th. The Owls’ depth extended all the way through the field, with standout efforts from Avery Hill (33rd), Avery Boyd (43rd), Harper Hill (44th), and fifth-grade newcomer Stephanie DeLucca (59th).

 

“This was one of the best all-around team efforts in school history,” said Coach Fixx. “They ran with joy, confidence, and teamwork—and it showed in every stride.”

 

"Great win at cross country! 🏃‍♂️ Hard work, teamwork, and determination paid off!" said Coach Castillo.

 

Boys’ Team Claims Second and a Record

 

The boys’ team also delivered a powerhouse performance, taking second place overall with 72 points, behind Foote’s 29. Hamden Hall finished third with 91, followed by St. John Paul, Our Lady of Mercy, Independent Day, and Hopkins.

 

Eighth-grade co-Captain Henry Laurans led the way with a spectacular run, winning the race and smashing both the course and school record with a time of 10:33. Close behind was fellow eighth-grader Tash F. who clocked 12:42 for the team’s second scoring spot.

 

Strong efforts from Harper Merrill (13:34), Clark Pennington (13:48, 23rd overall), and Jake Svitla (13:56, 24th) secured the runner-up finish. Newcomer Bradley Kopeikin (27th) and Luke Oulette (28th) provided key depth, while Jack Orlando, Sam Gagliardi, Benjamin Geno , Micah Benton, Henrik Schmid, Patrick Becker, and Arlo McGahan packed the middle of the field with determined runs.

 

As always, the meet had a festival atmosphere—teams camping across the athletic fields, classmates and families cheering from every turn, and the sounds of cowbells echoing through the woods and trails that wind around campus.

 

Both teams now turn their focus to this Saturday’s Wickham Park Invitational, where they’ll test their speed against top programs from Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York.