SOMERS, October 8 – Two-time defending North Central Connecticut Conference champion Kylie Raymond of Somers handed Canton’s Julia Caputo her first dual meet loss in five meets this fall with a 34-second victory Wednesday in Somers.
Raymond won the 3.1 mile girls cross country race in 19:43 over 3.1 miles as Somers put five runners in the top 10 to finish undefeated in the NCCC with a 13-0 record. Caputo was second with a time of 20:27 with teammate Maeve Balavender coming in fifth.
The Spartans will be looking to claim a NCCC title at next week’s NCCC championship meet at Bolton High on October 17. Suffield (11-1) and Ellington (11-2) will challenge the Spartans, whose best finish in the league championship meet since 1985 was a third place finish in 2017. Ellington has won two of the last three NCCC championships.
Teams earn one point for every NCCC team they beat during the dual meet portion of the schedule and one point for every team they beat at the NCCC championship meet.
Canton beat Stafford, 26-29 and blanked Hartford Classical to finish the dual meet portion of the schedule with a 12-3 record and 10-3 in the NCCC.
In the boys race, Canton swept Somers, Stafford and Classical to also finish 12-3 overall and 10-3 in the NCCC. The Warriors outlasted Somers, 24-35 while shutting out Stafford and Hartford Classical, 15-50.
Canton’s Matt Barton won his first dual meet of the season with a time of 18:51 over the 3.1 mile course in Somers. Barton beat Somers’ Tanner Hammond by 16 seconds. The Warriors had seven runners in the top 10 finish strong.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Somers 23, Canton 26
Somers 18, Stafford 42
Somers 15, Classical 50
Canton 26, Stafford 29
Canton 15, Classical 50
Stafford 15, Classical 50
At Somers
Winner: Kylie Raymond (Somers) 19:43 for 3.1 miles at Field Road; 2. Julia Caputo (Canton) 20:27, 3. Rachel St. Germain (Somers) 21:04, 4. T. Pitts (Somers) 22:37. 5. Maeve Balevender (Canton) 23:10, 6. M. Sprauge (Stafford) 23:17. 7. Grace First (Canton) 23:21, 8. E. Campion (Somers) 23:42. 9. M. Pekrul (Stafford) 23:59, 10. E. Bruel (Somers) 24:02
Records: Somers 13-0, Canton 12-3, 10-3 NCCC; Stafford 9-4, Classical 0-8
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Canton 24, Somers 35
Canton 15, Stafford 50
Canton 15, Classical 50
Somers 12, Classical 43
Somers 17, Stafford 44
Stafford 26, Classical 29
At Somers
Winner: Matt Barton (Canton) 18:51 for 3.1 miles at Field Road; 2. Tanner Hammond (Somers) 19:07, 3. Benjamin Campion (Somers) 19:16, 4. Jack Dendiger (Canton) 19:18, 5. Kevin Csizmesia (Canton) 19:31, 6. Gabriel Mower (Canton) 19:37, 7. Jacob Avery (Somers) 19:38, 8. Ryan Nickerson (Canton) 19:39, 9. John Holowesko (Canton) 19:50, 10. Liam O’Donnell (Canton) 20:01
Records: Canton 12-3, 10-3 NCCC: Somers 7-6, Stafford 5-8, Classical 3-7
