After starting the first three weeks of the Cross Country season with a relay, a 4K race, and a 2-mile race, the Spartan Varsity Teams and JV Boys ran their first 5K of the season on Saturday at the Seven Lakes Showcase Invitational. This meet was an early-season opportunity to see how the Spartans stack up against many of their Region 3-6A competitors.

VARSITY BOYS

The varsity boys placed 5th out of 22 teams. Senior Ben Pearce notched another victory, joining three other Spartans on the list of top-10 course times ever run. Junior Owen Duggan was the second Spartan to cross the line, finishing a minute faster on this course than he did last year. Junior Nathan Scott and sophomore Braddox Overstreet flashed potential to be contributors to the team this year with both running personal bests.

5K Results - 155 runners

• Ben Pearce - 1st
• Owen Duggan - 22nd
• Andrew Hopkins - 40th
• Nathan Scott - 68th
• Braddox Overstreet - 70th
• Ethan Shuck - 102nd
• Diego Ruiz - 104th

VARSITY GIRLS

Freshman Annika Huapaya followed up with another impressive performance, in a time of 20:14 in her first 5K of the season, earning a medal for the 4th straight week. Freshmen Shelbie Waggenspack, Ella Moore, and Kailyn Silva ran solid races, separated by barely 30 seconds. Our young Varsity Girls Team is improving every week.

5K Results - 126 runners

• Annika Huapaya - 13th
• Shelbie Waggenspack - 74th
• Ella Moore - 83rd
• Kailyn Siva - 92nd
• Laura Gonzalez - 106th
• Angelina Salel - 115th

JV BOYS

The JV Boys finished in 10th place out of 20 in the team competition. Sophomore Wesley Shuck finished strong in 9th place and won a medal. Sophomore Nolan Brock was the second Spartan across the line thanks to a powerful kick in the final stretch, continuing to show his potential with another solid race.

5K Results - 141 runners

• Wesley Shuck - 9th
• Nolan Brock - 35th
• Liam Osborn - 69th
• Kaleb Bernat - 87th
• Nate Zoboroski - 90th
• Kyle Gray - 106th
• Oliver Chow - 115th

JV GIRLS

Led by sophomore Laura Lozano, the JV Girls Team placed 11th out 17 teams. Freshman Catie Ruttman and sophomore Jules Houston made big improvements this week, both clocking PRs.

2-Mile Results - 129 runners

• Laura Lozano - 37th
• Catie Ruttman - 45th
• Jules Houston - 46th
• Amanda Gonzalez - 92nd
• Madelyn Box - 93rd
• Clara Forero - 118th
• Jeanie Barone - 124th

FRESHMAN BOYS

The Freshman Boys found themselves on top of the podium once again, finishing 1st out of 14 teams. Yunus Actintas earned a 2nd place individual finish dropping his time in the 2-mile race by an entire minute to run 11:03. Three more freshman Spartans finished in the top ten: Ethan Capelo, Grant Smith, and Emmet Odom. The Stratford Freshman Boys look unstoppable this season.

2-Mile Results - 110 runners

• Yunus Actintas - 1st
• Ethan Capelo - 8th
• Emmet Odom - 9th
• Grant Smith - 16th
• Jacob Pearce - 44th
• Will Fast - 49th
• Nolan Jackson - 51st

Next up is the Strake Jesuit Invitational at Bear Creek Pioneer Park, Saturday, September 7th.