BY MARTY OGDEN
In the 40th running of the FCIAC Girls' Cross Country Championships, Ridgefield won their 13th county meet in dramatic fashion with a 33--70 victory over defending champion Staples.
Ridgefield used a pack mentality and went out in the top 10 and ran together like a well-oiled machine. Ridgefield coach John Goetz used an unusual strategy this season by not entering any invitational meets and not going all out in any regular season meets either. This was due to a variety of injuries the Tigers suffered last year, which prevented them from winning their fourth straight FCIAC crown.
Goetz said the team's goal was to, "take six of the top 10 positions." While these were lofty expectations, the Lady Tigers were up for the challenge, finishing 4-5-7-8-9 and having only a 17-second spread between their first through fifth runner. The results, he said, "Give the girls a lot of confidence next week where we hope to challenge Glastonbury (for Class LL championship)."
Staples coach Amanda Morgan felt some of her girls were a little bit of. But she added, "We couldn't beat Ridgefield today if we were on."
Ridgefield was led by freshman Kasey McGerald, who finished in fourth in 15 minutes, 5 seconds for the four-kilometer course. She was supported by four other underclassmen in the top 10, plus four solid JVs in the top six.
While Ridgefield has excellent shot at repeating next year, there won't be the same opportunity for three-time FCIAC champion and All-American Hannah Debalsi of Staples,who will be moving on to bigger horizons at Stanford University next fall. Debalsi quickly forged to the front, followed by Mary Lynch of Wilton and established a 20-second lead by mile mark and was able to cruise in for the win to become the third girl to three-peat in the FCIAC.
Debalsi, who was timed in 14:05, stated she, "loved winning for the hometown pride" and "knew it would mean more to her when she is 30." Lynch secured second at 14:45, Placing third was Susannah Martin of Staples in 14:52.
In the boys' FCIAC meet, Danbury once again survived another scare from Staples and was able to defend their title with a score of 71-74. It was close the entire race with Danbury getting out better with five in the top 15 during the first mile. But Staples worked their way up and, according to longtime coach Laddie Lawrence, We were up by one point with 300 meters to go."
But that is when senior Jake Roberts, who was part of the New England championship 4x800m last spring, passed two athletes, including one from Staples. Danbury's sixth runner, Tim Moore, also passed one Wrecker to give the Hatter their 21st FCIAC title in 25 years.
When asked what motivated him to pass those runners, Roberts said "It is the attitude of the team. Number one pushes number two and number two pushes number three. You are just as important as anyone on the team. If it was down to me, I have to represent the program."
Leading the way for Danbury was junior Trevor Reed, who was ninth in the JV race last year and improved 91 seconds to take sixth place. Senior captain Jack Adamski, was tenth, Terrell Cunningham was 11th, Roberts was 18th and sophomore Dan Nichols completed the scoring in 20th place.
Pre-race favorite Eric van der Els of Brien McMahon lived up to his top billing by earning the individual title with a fast time of 15:24 for the 5K distance. He was comfortably ahead of runner-up Gabriel Altoop, who finished at 15:39. William Brisman of Fairfield Warde was third in 15:47.
Next up for teams throughout the state will be the class meets on Oct. 31.