Avon girls look sharp in win at Windham Invitational

WILLIMANTIC, Sept. 15 – The Avon High girls cross country team turned in an impressive performance at the 34th annual Haddad Windham Invitational. Avon won the Girls Varsity 2 race by placing five runners in the top 12, easily outdistancing Cheshire, 25-80 and Staples, which finished third with 127 points.

Junior Rachael Rosow won the race by nearly a minute (47 seconds) in 18:50 over Plainfield’s Kerri Ruffo. Avon’s Molly Hamel (19:43) was third while Maddie McHugh (19:47) was fourth. Sarah Stokesbury (ninth, 20:24) and Katie McIntyre (12th, 20:47) rounded out the top five. Teammates Kristen Goldie was 19th in 21:05 and Hannah Fusaro was 34th in 21:39.

Avon’s seven runners had an average time of 19:54.5 seconds – the fastest of any girls team in the event. Thomaston (20:16) and Griswold (21:69) were the fastest two teams in the Girls Varsity 3 race while Pomperaug (20:27) and Tolland (20:50) were the fastest two teams in the Girls Varsity 1 race.

It’s the best finish for the Avon girls since taking second in the Girls Varsity 2 race in 2009. Claire Smith was second in the race. In 2008, Avon was second in the unseeded race and Smith was second overall.

Also, Julia deSimas won the girls junior varsity race by eight seconds with a personal best time of 21:41.

In the Boys Varsity 2 race, Avon finished ninth overall, led by senior Mike Oberhausen, who finished 36th with a time of 17:32.1. Justin Alessio (17.37, 41st) and Connor Wise (17:38, 42nd) also broke 18 minutes for the Falcons. Colin Pritchard (71st, 18:32) and Jack Wendler (75th, 18:45) rounded out the top five for Avon.