BERLIN – Hazen Union Technical Ed teacher and newly hired Craftsbury Academy (CA) cross-country head coach, Maxfield English, crushed the field in his age group at the Berlin Pond Five Miler last week, finishing top five overall among 70-plus competitors.
English was coming off an impressive overall win at the Caspian Lake Challenge last month, where he finished the near seven-mile loop around the historic lake in just under 42 minutes. The 48-year-old crossed the line two minutes ahead of Jeremy Huckins (41) of Waterbury last Thursday to win his 40-49 Male Division and held off Andy Frakes (31) of Marshfield to finish fourth overall with an impressive time of 29:37. Former Montpelier High School standout Avery Smith successfully defended his 2023 Berlin Pond title with a time of 26:29. Smith will be a sophomore on the Tufts University men’s cross country team this coming fall. Shams Ferver (21) of Barre crossed the line at 34:01 to claim overall honors in the Female Division. English takes over a Charger cross country program this fall that has won the last four Division III state championships under the legendary and now-retired head coach Mike LeVangie. English created the cross-country program at Danville, serving as their head coach for six years. Former key Hardwick Gazette contributor and CA track and field coach Jim Flint believes the Charger cross country program is in good hands as they transition to English.
“It’s great news to hear Maxfield is the next hire to lead the cross-country program at Craftsbury Academy. Mike LeVangie gave so much to the Craftsbury running community, what an outstanding coach and human being. Maxfield is an iconic runner, all the more so for having overcome challenging injuries. He will be a huge asset to the program!” said Flint.
High School practices were scheduled to start this week statewide.
Local Runners at the Collegiate Level
New England – Several former Craftsbury Academy (CA) stars will be continuing to run at the collegiate level this coming fall for their respective universities.
Sophomores Cormac Leahy (Tufts University) and Charlie Krebs (Siena) are on their college’s 2024 rosters this coming fall as they look to build off solid freshman campaigns. The dynamic duo won multiple division III cross country titles at CA, as well as helping bring home the first Division IV boys’ track and field state championship in school history in 2022. Greensboro’s Leo Circosta is also intending to compete for the Norwich University’s men’s cross-country team this fall. Circosta helped CA capture the 2021 division III state title for the boys’ cross-country program in his only season competing.
