"The girls did better than I ever expected. Just shows you what good old
hard work on the hills of South Duxbury can do!" said the longtime
Harwood coach.
This was the fifth title for Harwood girls in cross country (they have
been runners-up eight times). The boys have won nine titles and have
been runners-up five times. "The girls are catching up with the boys,"
said Kerrigan. This was Kerrigan's 27th state title as a Highlander
coach.
"They get better all the time. I have been teaching and coaching for 37
years. I never know if each championship will be my last. This group of
kids has bonded well both on the trails and off. A lot of that can be
contributed to team captain Laurel Whitney. Laurel got all the girls
together every other week for social activities. They had fun together. I
heard one of the girls remark that it is great to be on a team where
everyone acts so nicely to each other. Laurel has been our number-one
runner in most of our races this year. I know she had to be a little
disappointed not to win today, but she did not show it. Jaime was on
fire today. Laurel was happy for Jaime and most of all the team
victory," said Kerrigan.
Jaime (1) and Laurel (3) qualified individually for the New England
Championships on November 13. The Harwood girls' team also qualified in
the team category for a run at the New Englands. In addition to Thomas
(1st), Whitney (3rd), the Highlanders placed Kate Stevens (7th), Hannah
Woodruff (10th), Olivia Nishi (12th), Yana Lotspeich (13) and Haley
Robinson (19) in the 150-runner field. Having first and third in the
race was awesome, but it was the pack that solidified the victory, said
Kerrigan.
Highlander boys were less successful in their quest for a fourth
straight title. Harwood boys finished fifth in a tight field. Middlebury
boys won and in doing so captured their first ever cross country
championship for their school.
"We knew for us to win, that all the boys would have to be dead on and
Middlebury had to be a little off. We were a little off and Middlebury
boys were outstanding. Our boys had a great season. It will be hard to
say goodbye to our seniors; Nathan Cutler, Dylan Thompson, Patrick Meany
and Zak Munro. These boys have been part of five state championship
teams, three in cross country and two in track. Number one Geordy Aitken
(junior), our number four Goeffrey Kazlow (freshman) and our number
six, Cameron Hancock (junior), are returning. We also have a good stable
of middle school boys ready to gain their ranks in "the Army," said
Kerrigan.
Harwood girls will contend for the New England cross country title along
with the five other best teams from Vermont and the six best from
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut on
November 13 at 11 a.m. at Thetford Hill State Park.
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