
Senior Max Sparks became the first Canton runner to win a Stratton Brook Invitational title. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)
SIMSBURY, Sept. 16 – The Canton High cross country program gets plenty of practice running the 5,000 meters at Stratton Brook Park in Simsbury. It has been the home course for the Warriors for years and it is the home of the Stratton Brook Invitational.
Senior Max Sparks, who worked hard over the summer to prepare for his final scholastic campaign, became the first Canton runner to win the Stratton Brook Invitational Saturday with his victory in the boys race.
Sparks won the Large Division race with a school record time (at Stratton Brook) of 16:33, nine seconds ahead of Staples’ William Landowne who took second in 16:42. Sparks cut 18 seconds off his time from last year when he was second in the Large Division.
Staples had four of the top nine runners to win the Large Division title with 30 points far ahead of Bristol Central with 77 points. Southington was third with 80 points while Conard (119) was fourth. The Warriors (146) finished fifth.
Canton senior Aidan O’Donnell was the other top 10 finisher for the Warriors, taking seventh in 17:23. Other varsity runners for Canton in the race included junior James Szpekman (41, 19:32), junior Nicholas Lagonigro (45, 19:40), senior Drew Bidmead (52, 20:10), sophomore Matt Barton (56, 20:22) and sophomore Sean Richard (57, 20:33).

Senior Jane Frawley earned a top 11 finish at the recent Stratton Brook Invitational in Simsbury. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)
The Canton girls finished fourth in the Large Division, sparked by freshman Julia Caputo, who finished ninth and senior Jane Frawley, who took 11th place. Caputo had a season-best time of 21:37 to earn a top 10 finish while Frawley finished in 21:43.
Glastonbury (22) easily won the Large Division title followed by RHAM (82), Southington (113) and Canton (113). Southington took third place on a tiebreaker. The sixth place runner for the Blue Knights was 36th while the sixth place runner for Canton was 53rd.
Rounding out the Canton varsity was senior Belle Magna (20, 22:24), junior Helena Winkler (25, 22:45), junior Lila Hunt (48, 26:36) and junior Savannah Kashnig (53, 31:18).
Both Canton teams opened up the dual meet season last week with victories over Bolton and one of the NCCC’s newest members – Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy (HMTCA).
On the girls side, Frawley won the race in 21:55 at Stratton Book, followed by Caputo, Magna, Winkler and Hunt as Canton swept the top five spots in the race.
In the boys race, Sparks won the race in 17:41, beating teammate Aidan O’Donnell by 16 seconds to capture the race. Sean Richard (sixth), James Szpekman (seventh) and Matt Barton (tenth) each earned top 10 finishes.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Canton 15, Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy 45
Canton 15, Bolton 50
HMTCA 15, Bolton 50
At Simsbury
Winner: Jane Frawley (C) 21:55 for 3.1 miles at Stratton Brook Park, 2. Julia Caputo (C) 23:01, 3. Belle Magna (C) 23:04, 4. Helena Winkler (C) 23:29, 5. Lila Hunt (C) 26:54, 6. M. Piechowicz (B) 26:57, 7. I. Allison (B) 27:08, 8. M. Lindsay (H) 28:10, 9. Savannah Kashnig (C) 28:44, 10. A. Madeia (B) 28:50
Records: Canton 2-0, HMTCA 1-1, Bolton 0-2
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Canton 24, Bolton 33
Canton 15, HMTCA 50
Bolton 15, HMTCA 49
At Simsbury
Winner – Max Sparks (C) 17:41 for 3.1 miles at Stratton Brook Park; 2. Aidan O’Donnell (C) 17:57, 3. M. Barrett (B) 19:31, 4. L. Carini (B) 20:04, 5. K. Brudz (B) 20:05, 6. Sean Richard (C) 20:09, 7. James Szpekman (C) 20:12, 8. M. Webb (C) 20:21, 9. W. Lyon (H) 20:26, 10. Matt Barton (C) 20:45
Records: Canton 2-0, Bolton 1-1, HMTCA 0-2
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