Hilltoppers Claim Best Finish at New Englands
MANCHESTER, Conn. – The St. Johnsbury Academy (SJA) boys cross-country team laid claim to the program’s best finish over the weekend at the 89th Annual NE Interscholastic Cross Country Championships at Wickham Park.
Fresh off his Division I individual state title two weeks ago, Emmet Johnson led the way for the Hilltoppers on Saturday, posting an 11th place finish in the boys 5,000m. Johnson crossed the line with a time of 15:48, good enough to earn him All-New England team honors.
photo courtesy Norwich University’s men’s cross country website.
Reigning Vermont Gatorade Runner of the Year Andrew Thornton-Sherman was the next Hilltopper to finish (27th), followed by teammate Isaac Lenzini (49th). Joel Thorton-Sherman, Bryan Stocker, Evan Windrow, and former Craftsbury Academy (CA) champion Charlie Kehler rounded out the top finishers for the Hilltoppers on the day.
Spaulding’s Nicholas Kidder, Montpelier’s Jay Borland, U-32’s Cole Page, CVU’s Treson McEnaney, and Nic Conathan-Leach of Brattleboro all finished in the top 75 for the state of Vermont. Newtown’s Soheib Dissa bested the field of over 250 runners with a time of 15:13. SJA wrapped up another sensational year on the high school trails, honoring the memory of legendary coach Chip Langmaid while capturing their fourth consecutive Division I state championship under first-year head coach Brandon Legendre.
In the girls 5,000m, CVU repeated as New England champs for their seventh NE title in 14 years. Lydia Donahue (15th) led the Redhawks with a time of 18:40, followed by teammate Audrey Neilson (25th). Green Mountain’s Estella Laird, MMU’s Acadia Enman, and U-32’s Ginger Long also finished in the top 25 for the state of Vermont. Glastonbury’s Brooke Strauss was the first to cross the line with a time of 17:46.
Circosta Earns Honors as Cadets Capture Title
NORTHFIELD – Former Craftsbury Academy (CA) champion Leo Circosta and his Norwich University men’s cross-country team hosted and captured their 12th Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) title last week.
Circosta earned Second Team All-Conference honors, posting a top 10 finish for the Cadets. Five of his teammates led by Matheu Dettenrieder (5th) finished in the top 10 as Norwich blitzed the 12-team field with a score of 30. St. Joseph’s College of Maine was runner-up with a score of 57. Colby Sawyer’s Cody Thompson bested the field to capture individual honors. Dettenrieder earned All-Conference First Team honors and was also named GNAC Rookie of the Year.
Circosta and the Cadets wrap up their season on Saturday as they travel to Waterford, Conn., for the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championship.
