Harwood boys and girls qualify for New England Championships
Despite injuries to two of the top five runners, Harwood girls captured an unprecedented seventh straight Division II Vermont state title while running on the hilly trails at Thetford Academy on Saturday, October 31.
“I was not sure if Izzy and Anneka would be able to run today, but they gave it their best shot to help us. I think the rest of the girls on the team were inspired by their courage and it helped to motivate everyone,” said coach John Kerrigan.
Erin Magill led Harwood girls. Erin finished a solid third place. Harwood girls followed Erin with a strong pack. Jordi Kulis (5), Phoebe Sweet (6), Lily Clark (10) and Izzy Jamieson (11) supported the team effort. A brave performance by an injured Anneka Williams (18) and a great effort by first-year runner Katie Ferguson (27) helped seal the victory for the Highlanders.
“"The team is a family and we go into a race knowing that whatever happens we're all in it together,” said Williams, co captain of the HU girls’ cross-country team.
For their efforts, Erin and Jordi were named as individuals to the All New England Team. The entire girls’ team qualified as a team to represent Vermont at the New England Cross-Country Championships.
Harwood boys went into the state meet defending their four straight state titles. Harwood boys have won 13 Vermont Division II titles and have more state meet titles than any other team in Vermont. Coach Kerrigan’s team lost two of their top runners to graduation and their No. 3 from last year transferred to Hanover, New Hampshire.
“We knew it was going to be tough to defend the title, but our secondary goal was to qualify for New Englands,” said Kerrigan.
Harwood boys did not disappoint the veteran coach. Although they placed third among Division II teams, they placed fifth overall when all divisions were merged. Only Division I teams from Champlain Valley and South Burlington beat the Highlander boys (top six Vermont teams qualify). So both Harwood teams will compete at the New England Championships, which will take place on November 14 on the Thetford trails.
This time last year, Harwood’s Noah Eckstein was playing JV soccer for the Highlanders. “I made the right decision by switching to cross-country,” said Eckstein. Eckstein placed fifth at the state meet and qualified as an individual for the New Englands. Harwood boys had a great team effort behind Eckstein. Daniel Bevacqui (14), Anthony Palmerio (17), Colin Fennelly (18), Kyle Dash (23), Seth Beard (27) and Nathan Palmerio (29) helped in the New England qualifying effort.
This was the 23rd Vermont state title for Harwood cross-country. “They may have more state titles than any Vermont school in any sport,” said veteran coach Kerrigan who has coached the team to all of those titles. “Kerrigan has been a part of 41 state titles for Harwood that include cross-country, Nordic skiing and track. I may be a lot older than our first championship (boys’ track, 1981) but the great feeling of victory never gets old,” said Kerrigan.
“The victories are not nearly as important to me as the lasting friendships I have formed with all of my former runners and their families. I have been very blessed to have such outstanding young men and women striving to give their best,” said Kerrigan.
“The Track in the Woods could be a lasting functional physical memorial to all of their great efforts. It is a great reflection of the culture of our area. It embodies the personality and spirit of our Harwood teams: modest, unique, harmonious and beautifully functional,” John Kerrigan.
Harwood boys and girls will compete at the New England Cross-Country Championships at Thetford Hill State Park on November 14.
