Country School Cross Country Junior Olympians Qualify for National Championships!

The Country School Junior Olympians raced cross country well on Sunday in Attleboro, Massachusetts in the New England and New York Championships and all qualified to go onto the National Championships, in Lexington, Kentucky, December 11.

Coached by Mrs. Coyne, Mr. McDonough and Mr. Fixx, the eight runners combined to win two races yesterday, take a 2nd place finish, three 1st place finishes in Connecticut, two 2nd place finishes in Connecticut, and a 3rd and a 4th place finish in Connecticut.

The day started with Liv K. in the 8 and Under race running not only her fastest 2K (1.24 miles) time this season but the fastest time this year in the United States. Her 7:22 time bodes well for Liv to be competitive in the National Championships in three weeks.

Tash F. went off next and, while running his fastest 3K (1.86 miles) time of the season by far, took 1st place in Connecticut and 21st place overall in the race, running at 6:29 per mile pace.

The 9 and 10-year-old girls were next off, with Anna G. finishing 15th overall and 4th in Connecticut with a time of 12:40, her fastest time of the season, at a 6:48 pace per mile. After a very competitive opening 1500 meters, the race was led by Laila and Tillie, who took 1st and 2nd overall, running the first and third fastest times in the United States this year.

Luke S. continued his impressive improvement, running 11:01 to finish 2nd in Connecticut and 22nd overall in his crowded race, laying down a pace of 5:55 per mile.

Maribel S. finished 2nd in Connecticut and 38th overall, running 12:31 for a 6:43 pace and, along with her hungry teammates, earning the food on the snack table after she crossed the finish line.

After cheering on her teammates in their races, the day ended with captain Anna V. finishing 3rd in Connecticut and 16th overall for her 4K race with her fastest time of the season, a 6:09 pace per mile over the 4K (2.4 miles) of grass and wooded trails.

While coached by their Country School personnel, the team affiliates with the nonprofit Litchfield Track Club to be able to qualify for Junior Olympics. The team trains for three more weeks before heading to Lexington, Kentucky for the National Championships.