Despite rain and mud, Avon runners win titles at Bellinger Invitational

Runners climb the slippery, muddy hill at the Bellringer Invitational Friday in East Hampton. The Avon High boys and girls cross country teams each won titles at the meet.

EAST HAMPTON, Sept. 28 – The course at the Bellringer Invitational in East Hampton is challenge in good weather, never mind pouring rain. Twice, runners have to race up a steep 60-meter hill. Steady rain created plenty of mud that made the hill more of a challenge.

That is why the Avon High boys and girls cross country teams travel to the Bellringer Invitational each year – to be tested. Both Avon teams passed their tests Friday as they each won their respective championship races.

The Avon girls put five runners in the top 10 and 14 in the top 20 to win the Bellringer Invitational for the second straight year with a 29-51 victory over East Hampton. The Avon boys had five runners in the top 16 as they outlasted host East Hampton, 54-64 to win the event for the first time. Both Avon teams ran the race after running a dual meet in Enfield just 24 hours earlier.

“I like running here because of the course because it is hard and it gives them a chance to get in some hills before Wickham,” Avon coach Al Daddario said. The Falcons, who are ranked No. 5 in the state coaches poll for the second straight week, will race next weekend at the Wickham Invitational in Manchester, the host course for the CIAC championship races at the end of October.

Avon’s Katie McIntyre works hard to drive up the hill at the Bellringer Invitaitonal in the rain Friday.

The girls race was held in steady rain and slippery conditions with plenty of mud along the course and on the big hill. Junior Rachael Rosow ran side by side with Coventry sophomore Elle Jean for nearly two miles before Jean pulled away for the victory. Rosow finished second with teammates Sarah Stokesbury and Molly Hamel finishing third and fifth respectively. Maddi McHugh and Katie McIntyre finished ninth and tenth, respectively.

On Thursday, Daddario let his top five runners have a day off in a four-team meet at Enfield with East Windsor and Sport Medicine Science Academy. Still, Avon (9-0, 9-0 NCCC) put 13 runners across the line before an Enfield runner finished to earn three 15-50 shutout victories. Freshman Ryley Higgins won the race for the Falcons. “I wanted the other kids to step up which they did,” Daddario said.

The Avon boys won their first invitational championship in a long time. They dethroned host East Hampton, which had won the last seven Bellringer Invitational titles. Connor Wise finished sixth in 19:17.1 for the Falcons but Avon had another five runners in the top 20 to secure the win.

Jeff Demers, Mike Oberhausen and Justin Alessio finished 11th, 12th and 13th respectively with Jack Wendler in 16th place and Collin Pritchard in 19th  place. And for the boys, the course was even muddier and slipperier after two races in front of them.

“Normally, we come for the challenge of the course and to compete for a top three spot,” Avon boys coach Gene Macy said. “To get first this year was a special treat. The boys’ legs were tired but they ran a great race. They were struggling at the one mile mark but they did well passing (runners) in the second and third miles.”

Avon (9-0, 9-0) also ran the day before earning wins over Enfield, Sports Medicine Science Academy and East Windsor. “This has been a good week for us,” Macy said. “We’ve really beginning to gell. All of the hard work is finally coming into place this week.”

Both Avon teams will have some tough meets in the next two weeks. They travel to Ellington for a dual meet with the Purple Knights, East Granby and Bolton on Wednesday and race at the Wickham Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 6. The following week, they face Suffield, Coventry and Windsor Locks at Windsor Locks on Oct. 10.

Photos from Bellringer Invitational

BOYS RESULTS
Bellringer Invitational
At East Hampton
Team results – 1. Avon 54, 2. East Hampton 64, 3. Coventry 92, 4. Windham Tech 105, 5. Bacon Academy 121, 6. Portland 143, 7. Norwich Tech 156, 8. Sheehan 178
Avon runners — . 6. Connor Wise 19:17.1, 11. Jeff Demers 19:32.9, 12. Mike Oberhausen 19:35.4, 13. Justin Alessio 19:41.0, 16. Jack Wendler 19:51.5, 19. Colin Pritchard 19:55.8, 26. Dan Innes 20:49.3, 37. Eric Kirk 21:46.6, 43. Andrew Redlund 21:52.4
Full race results http://www.usaxc.com/

Avon 15, Sport Medicine Science Academy 50
Avon 15, Enfield 50
Avon 21, East Windsor 38
At Enfield
1. Clayton O’Dell (EW) 17:26 for 3.1 miles at Enfield, 2. Connor Wise (A) 17:36, 3. Jeff Demers (A) 17:39, 4. Michael Oberhauser (A) 17:51, 5. Justin Alessio (A) 17:54, 6. Dylan Costa (EW) 17:57, 7. Jack Wendler (A) 18:04, 8. Dan Guagni (EW) 18:07, 9. Collin Pritchard (A) 18:20, 10. Dan Innes (A) 18:40

GIRLS RESULTS
Bellringer Invitational
At East Hampton
Team results – 1. Avon 29, 2. East Hampton 51, 3. Coventry 90, 4. Bacon Academy 103, 5. Portland 130, 6. Sheehan 143, 7. Parish Hill 190
Avon runners — 2. Rachael Rosow 20:59.3, 3. Sarah Stokesbury 21:31.5, 5. Molly Hamel 22:05.4, 9. Maddi McHugh 22:55.5, 10. Katie McIntyre 23:00.7, 11. Ryley Higgins 23:13.0, 17. Julia deSimas 24:07.0, 19. Kristen Goldie 24:23.3, 20. Hannah Fusaro 24.13.7, 21. Madison Zapatka 24:26.8
Full race results http://www.usaxc.com/

Avon 15, East Windsor 50
Avon 15, Enfield 50
Avon 15, Sport Medicine Science Academy 50
At Enfield
1. Ryley Higgins (A) 21:33 for 3.1 miles, 2. Madison Zapatka (A) 21:55, 3. Julia deSimas (A) 22:07, 4. Hannah Fusaro (A) 22:14, 5. Heather Howes (A) 23:00, 6. Heather Carpiro (A) 23:05, 7. Abby Welsh (A) 24:15, 8. Ellena Gressier (A) 24:54, 9. Corinne Molson (A) 25:57, 10. Samantha Waddell (A) 26:33