For the first time in 11 years, Harwood Union cross country coach John Kerrigan took his Highlander team to Thetford for the Thetford Invitational also known as the Woods Trail Run on October 7,2023.
“We have had a conflict with the Maine Festival of Champions (FOC) since 2011. The Maine FOC is a better organized meet on a spectacular running trail, with a runner-friendly atmosphere. However, Thetford is the host site for the Vermont state championships. Attendance at the Woods Trail, provides an opportunity to preview the Vermont state meet course. In years past we have been at a disadvantage to other Vermont schools that attend this meet. For some reason for the first time in over a decade, these two meets did not conflict, so we took the trip down I-89 to the Upper Valley.”
The date may not have been a conflict with Maine FOC but there was a conflict with the SATs. Also, injuries and illness prevented many of the top Harwood runners from competing. “Only 13 of our 25 runners were able to compete. We were represented mostly with our JVs and a sprinkling of varsity runners,” said Kerrigan
Despite the lack of full representation, Harwood runners held their own against the best from Vermont and several strong out-of-state teams. Harwood boys finished 22nd and the girls 24th in the 60-team field.
“This was the first time since 2014 that the boys finished higher than our girls at a major invitational,” Kerrigan reported.
Freshman Julia Cisz and sophomore Chapin Rivers finished among the top 10 in their races. With less than ¼ mile to go both runners were in the mid-teens surrounded by packs of runners. “Julia and Chapin fought hard to gain finishes in the top 10 and a place on the podium,” their coach said.
Junior Heidi Haraldsen led the Harwood girls placing 81st in the 400-plus girls’ field. For the third meet in a row, Chris Cummiskey led the Harwood boys. He finished 56th in the 500-plus field.
Ranked CVU girls (currently ranked third in the Northeast) finished first in the girls’ race. Saint Johnsbury won the boys’ race.
Next up for Harwood XC is the Harwood Co-ed Invitational when Harwood will host hundreds of runners from throughout Vermont on the challenging course on Saturday, October 14. There will be refreshments and T-shirts for sale.
“Come on out next Saturday and support Harwood cross country. Races begin at 10a.m.,” Kerrigan said.
