GROTON – Frederick placed three runners among the top five spots to win the boys’ team championship, while Aberdeen Roncalli claimed the top two individual positions in the girls’ race during the Groton Invitational Cross County Meet on Monday.
Roncalli’s Addison Cassady topped the girls’ field in a time of 22:07.84 with teammate Hazel Kannegieter runner-up in a time 22:09.30. Meanwhile, Matt Peterson was eighth and Isaac Price 16th in the boys’ race.
“That was a nice showing for the boys and a really special deal with Addison and Hazel going 1-2,” said Roncalli coach Casey Steele, noting that both Cassady and Kannegieter finished in front of Groton’s Faith Traphagen, who beat them last week. Traphagen finished third.
Steele was also pleased with the program’s sub-varsity runners, who will soon come into play.
“Our junior varsity boys and girls stepped up and were much more competitive as a group than we have been in the past,” Steele said. “That was a wonderful deal for them, because next week for conference and following week for our regional meet, they’re going to be stepping up and filling varsity slots.”
Frederick was led by Milo Sumption in second, Titus Kippley in third, and Howard Sumption in fifth. Aidan Thurber of Ellendale, N.D. won the boys’ race.
Aberdeen Christian had two varsity runners competing on the day. Joseph Richards was 12th in the boys’ race and Clara Herreid was 13th in the girls’ race.
Roncalli now has two meets remaining: the Northeast Conference Meet on Thursday, Oct. 10, and the Region 1A Meet on Wednesday, Oct. 16, both in Webster.
The Cavaliers have competed three times in the past eight days and now will rest up. That schedule was by design, according to Steele.
“Early on we looked at that before the season, I thought you know having those two meets last week and really loading up and coming back on this Monday, we’ll be able to hit training and then be able to back off for the conference and the regional meet,” Steele said. “Hopefully, the plan is to be as fresh and as competitive mentally and physically as we possibly can.”
To see complete meet results, click on the following link:
https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/242526/results/all
