Class L
Class L Girls starts at 11:25 am
Defending Champion: Pomperaug
Class L Boys starts at 12:00 pm
Defending Champion: New Milford
Boys
With last year's champion New Milford having a rare off year and 3rd place finisher Hall moving up to to Class LL, that leaves this race in the hands of 2016 surprise runner up Pomperaug and greatly improved New Canaan. The Rams have a little more firepower up front, but the Panthers have a little more depth. A lot will come down to how other team's break these up their runners.
Never discount New Milford. They have had some small injuries and a little bad luck, but behind individual favorite Eli Nahom, they still have an outside shot at placing in the top two.
Behind Nahom, Kyle Hotchkiss of Waterbury's Kennedy High has improved a great deal since last year and has put himself in contention as well along with Pomperaug's Rob Moore and New Canaan's Max Koschnitzke.
Girls
There are few teams that are as overwhelmingly favored to win as Pomperaug this weekend. Even if one of their runners has an off day, their 6th and 7th runners can fill in and still pull a low finishing spot.
It will be a more interesting battle for 2nd place as E.O. Smith and Guilford both have had successful seasons. Guilford is ranked 5th in the latest CT Coaches XC Poll and won the SCC championships, while 10th ranked E.O. Smith should give them a run for their money.
Wilton never ran a 5k this fall, but it is all be guaranteed that Morgan McCormick will bump everyone back one spot and take the win. In fact, the defending State Open Champion could run one of the fastest non-Hannah Debalsi times on Wickham's 5000m course and she will have Pomperaug freshman Kate Wiser right behind to give her that extra push. It will great to see the veteran race the rookie to see how the race develops.