The ConVal boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams competed at the Laconia Invitational this Saturday. Bluebird skies and moderate temperatures made it a great day for spectators and racers alike, though the undulating, technical course may have been a little more difficult for those trying to cover 3.1 miles as quickly as possible.
The boys’ team had a solid 3rd-place finish in a 13-team field. The boys were led by sophomore Evan Coyne, who finished 11th in the field of 134 runners. Just three ticks back was fellow sophomore Ben Henry; both runners finished with a time faster than CV’s top runner put forward last year. Casey Burgess moved up to the third spot, followed by Oliver Ellerkamp and Jackson Burnham who moved into the team’s top five for the first time.
The girls team continued to roll, taking a narrow first place victory with Kennett finishing second. Clare Veverka picked up her first victory of the season after a pair of runner-up placings. The Cougars’ top four would all finish in the top ten, as Schuyler Michalak (3rd), Lucy Freeman (6th) and Sawyer Cawthern (10th) showed their mettle on the tough course. Freshman Marina MacMahon rounded out the scorers finishing in the top five for the first time this season.
Both teams head to the Manchester Invitational this Saturday to face off against the best teams in not only New Hampshire but throughout New England.