THETFORD – The St. Johnsbury Academy (SJA) cross-country team wrapped up another successful season earlier this month with a strong finish at the New England Championships at Thetford Academy.
Joel Thornton-Sherman was the top Vermont high school boys runner, leading the Hilltoppers to a strong sixth place team finish at the 90th edition of the New England High School Cross-Country Championships. Thornton-Sherman finished 7th overall in the boys 5,000m with a time of 16:31.8. Sean Gray of Portsmouth, N.H., was the overall individual winner, crossing the finish line with a time of 15:53.1. Reigning Division III Vermont state champion Gage Magnuson of BFA-Fairfax posted an impressive top 20 finish with a time of 16:53.9. SJA finished 6th overall in the boys team competition, with Bryan Stocker, John Thornton-Sherman and Manny Fliegelman complimenting their team captain. Fliegelman has transitioned seamlessly to division I competition in his second year with the Hilltoppers after an outstanding freshman campaign with Hazen Union.
In late October, the Hilltoppers and Thornton-Sherman both secured runner-up finishes in the Division I State Championships. Stocker finished 9th and Fliegelman finished just outside of the top 20 for SJA. CVU took home the team title to end the Hilltoppers four year championship run.
