Ridgefield, Ostberg clear favorites for prosperity at state level

In the recent coaches’ poll, Ridgefield was the overwhelming favorite to win its second straight team title at the CIAC Open Championship. With a squad that loses just two runners to graduation and returns some quality veterans, few could argue.

Junior Gabriel Altopp and senior Austin Gilbert leads an experienced team that features four seniors and a junior among its scoring five.

Gilbert is the top returnee. He was seventh at last year’s CIAC meet with a time of 16:24.0. He ran his fastest for the fall campaign a week later at the New England Championship where he cracked 16 minutes for the first time with a 15:59.40 effort.

Gilbert, who has 9:14 speed for the two mile, improved on his 5K best by more than a minute on May 10 when he blazed to a fast 14:57.61 clocking at the New Balance Boston Twilight Meet.

Altopp finished ninth at the state championship and was 15th at the N.E. meet where he ran his PB of 15:49.3. Senior Kristian Sogaard (16:11), senior Clint Corso (16:28) and senior Ethan Realander (16:26.32) are the three next fastest returning runners.

Danbury, whose top five runners average 16:42 for the 5K distance, is currently ranked No. 2 behind Ridgefield

Who’s favored for individual honors.

The bulls’ eye is clearly on the singlet of Darien senior Alex Ostberg. He was third at the 2013 states and second at the New England’s. That was just the beginning. Ostberg was a third-place finisher at the Foot Locker Northeast Regionals and 11th at the Foot Locker Championship

The best race of his high school career would come six months later at the New Balance National Outdoor Championship where Ostberg claimed the individual title with an eye-popping 14:16.61 clocking! Can the Darien standout be challenged this year? Based on what he did at NBNO, it may take a mammoth effort by one of his rivals to upset the gifted harrier.

Ostberg is one of three runners returning from the top seven at the 2013 states. Wilton junior Spencer Brown, who was fifth last fall, owns a best of 16:58. He also has done 4:11 for the mile. Brien McMahon junior Eric Van de Els, sixth as a tenth-grader last year, has a best of 15:53.

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Just a reminder, MIleSplit CT will begin its meet coverage this weekend at the Windham Invitational. Veteran track and cross-country writer Ken Castro will be on site for the Saturday meet. We'll also provide coverage of Saturday's Wilton Invitational.