Canton girls cross country races past Ellington to earn a victory

Canton’s Emily Briggs leads her sister Abby in a recent race in Granby. (Photo courtesy Bill Sarmuk)

SIMSBURY, Sept. 29 – The margin of error with the Canton High girls cross country team is small – very small. The Warriors have just seven runners on the team but they can run.

Canton placed six runners in the top 10 Tuesday to beat Ellington for the second time in three years with a 26-30 decision at Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury – the home course for the Warriors. Anna Chamberland won the race for Ellington and teammate Lia Guerette took third. But Canton took five of the next eight spots to secure the win. The Warriors also beat Hartford Classical, 15-46.

Emily Briggs led the Warriors (7-1, 7-1 NCCC) by taking second in 21:59 over the 3.1 mile course, eight seconds off the pace set by Chamberland.

Canton’s Abby Briggs (4, 22:25) and Cameron McCauley (5, 22:42) each finished ahead of Ellington’s Kate Walder (6, 22:51) while Canton’s Belle Magna (7, 23:02) and Jocelyn Rossitto (8, 23:32) finished strongly along with freshman Helena Winkler in tenth place.

Canton beat the Purple Knights, 28-29 in 2013 but had lost five straight dating back to 2008. The 7-1 record is Canton’s best start since going 13-0 in the dual meet portion of the season in 2006.

On the boys side, Ellington had three of the top four runners to secure a 22-34 win over the Warriors (5-3, 5-3 NCCC). Canton did beat Hartford Classical, 15-49.

Jake Whittingslow, who won his first dual meet of the season a week ago at Granby against the Bears, East Granby and Windsor Locks, led Canton with a third place finish in 18:24. Ethan Porter was fifth for Canton in 19:18 while Zach Oliver was sixth in 19:33.

The Warriors will be back in action Saturday at the Brewster Bear Invitational in Brewster, N.Y.

GIRLS
Canton 26, Ellington 30
Canton 15, Hartford Classical 46
Ellington 17, Hartford Classical 44
At Simsbury
Results – 1. Anna Chamberland (E) 21:51 for 3.1 miles at Stratton Brook Park, 2. Emily Briggs (C) 21:59, 3. Lia Guerette (E) 22:14, 4. Abby Briggs (C) 22:25, 5. Cameron McCauley (C) 22:42, 6. Kate Walder (E) 22:51, 7. Belle Magna (C) 23:02, 8. Jocelyn Rossitto (C) 23:32, 9. Jenni Giacalone (E) 23:59, 10. Helena Winkler (C) 24:42
Records: Canton 7-1, 7-1 NCCC

BOYS
Ellington 22, Canton 34
Ellington 15, Hartford Classical 50
Canton 15, Hartford Classical 49
At Simsbury
Results – 1. David Clavet (E) 17:19 for 3.1 miles at Stratton Brook; 2. Thomast Arbeiter (E) 17:56; 3. Jake Whittingslow (C) 18:24, 4. Kyle Fitzgerald (E) 18:46, 5. Ethan Porter (C) 19:18, 6. Zach Oliver (C) 19:33, 7. Daniel Meaney (E) 19:37, 8. William Broding (E) 19:38, 9. Matthew Sullivan (C) 20:27, 10. Daniel Bocchino (E) 20:53
Records: Canton 5-3, 5-3 NCCC