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POMFRET — The Pomfret School boys’ cross country team hosted its first meet of the season for Fall Family Weekend. The squad did not disappoint as they defeated Woodstock Academy, The Gunnery, and Cheshire Academy.
Team Scores: Pomfret 32, Woodstock 35, Gunnery 67, Cheshire 111
The school’s course is notoriously difficult; with a punishing .6-mile finishing uphill that tests all comers. However, before that, runners must traverse two and half miles of varying terrain, including soft fields, fast pavement, perilous trails, and deep muddy patches. The course is nicknamed “The Equalizer,” as it plays no favorites.
The Gunnery’s #1 runner ran shoulder to shoulder with Chris Verstandig ’19 for the first couple of miles, while co-captain Blake Zahansky ’21 smartly hung behind, always in striking distance. Jeffery Gibbs ’20 ran the first couple of miles in fourth overall place ahead of a large pack of the race’s runners bunched along the Quad and lower athletic fields.
Once the runners disappear in the trails below the softball field and behind the ice rink, all must wait until runners reappear just below the turf before they ascend past the football field up toward the Quad. When they did, Gunnery’s #1 had put almost a minute between him and his Pomfret competitors. (He ended up finishing just 9 seconds behind the course record of 18:33.) Pomfret’s first runner was Blake who, once again, ran a very intelligent race. In addition to being the first Pomfret runner to cross the line he shaved an impressive 45 seconds off his best home course time. While Chris slipped behind Blake, he was able to, and very importantly, hold onto his third overall slot. Jeffery maintained his fourth overall position and dropped better than a minute off his best home course time! After Jeffrey, a quintuplet of Woodstock runners crossed, meaning that Pomfret would have to have some runners cross soon else we wouldn’t be assured victory, despite taking spots 2, 3, & 4.
Ben Richardson ’21 came the rescue, finishing 4th today - his best finish of the season. Ben has been working hard, and now with his XC legs under him, he’s using his mental toughness to the team’s advantage. In the final scoring slot and 5th for Pomfret was trusty Nathaniel Ahn ’20. Ben and Nathaniel’s finish, ahead of Woodstock’s 6 and 7 finishers, assured the victory. The final two varsity slots for Pomfret were taken by Kellen Horst ’22 and Ben Kelsey ’21.
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