Connecticut Junior Olympics 2021

The Country School Cross Country team had exceptional success yesterday racing in the Connecticut Junior Olympics with all competitors finishing high enough to “move through” 12 runners this coming Sunday to the New England Regional Championships. From there, the top runners take their racing spikes December 11th to Lexington, Kentucky.

The day started off with 3rd Grader Liv K. winning the first race of the day, demonstrating she is the fastest 8 and Under girl in Connecticut. It is the third time Liv has run fast enough to run in the National Championships.

The 8 and Under boys race saw 2nd Grader Brayden begin in 9th place, move up to 7th place, and then hustle into an outstanding 6th place finish in front of his proud extended family. Running the Junior Olympics for the first time ever, Brayden responded with poise to the competition.

In the 9 & 10 year old race, 5th grader Laila G. sprinted to a first place finish, with her fastest 3K time of the season, just missing the course record by 10 seconds. Laila has never been beaten in a CT Junior Olympics race, a tough streak to maintain. Teammate and classmate Tillie suffered a worrisome injury early in the race and was still so strong she could limp to a 2nd place finish, well ahead of her nearest competitor. Rising 5th grade standout Anna G. powered to a 9th place finish overall, nabbing 5th place for her Litchfield Track Club team to earn their berth to the National Championships. In her first-ever Junior Olympics, 5th grader Samantha raced to earn a medal and 14th place for her team, with her fastest pacing all season.
 
The winning girls team will be joined in Attleboro, Massachusetts by the always-reliable Tash, who finished 4th in the 9 & 10 boys to lead the Litchfield TC team. A veteran of big races, 4th grader Tash hung in with the lead pack as they pulled away from the rest of the field. Tash sprinted the final 800 meters exceptionally hard, including the forbidding uphill finish.

The 11 & 12 boys race was a barn burner, with 6th Grader Luke S. finishing in 2nd place overall, keeping the leader in his sights and racing away from all his other competitors. Luke's finish was his highest ever and he earned his medal with his fastest time of the season. First-time JO racer Nathaniel Schultz raced his fastest during the first half of the race but then had to absorb disappointment when he got steered in the wrong direction. Despite running some five minutes farther than anyone else, 6th grader Nathaniel still earned his invitation to race this coming Sunday in the Regional Championships.

8th grade Captain Anna V. helped get her teammates ready for their racing and then, despite finishing 10th in Connecticut, had what for her was a disappointing race. Leading the fast pack for the first 1200 meters, Anna showed all her training is paying off and then hung on gamely to complete the course.
 
The team now practices Tuesday, Thursday and Friday to get ready for the Regional Championships.

 



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341 Opening Hill Road, Madison, CT 06443
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Founded in 1955, The Country School is a coeducational, independent school serving students in PreSchool-Grade 8. The Country School is committed to active, hands-on learning and a vigorous curriculum that engages the whole child.