PUTNAM — Putnam Middle School eighth grader TJ Espinosa won the boys’ QVJC cross country championship in thrilling fashion Wednesday, crossing the line less than one second ahead of Canterbury’s Lucas Hecker. “My winning mindset helped me push through the finish line,” said Espinosa, whose time of 12:25.4 bested Hecker by just seven-tenths of a second on the 2.1-mile course at Plainfield High School. “(Hecker) and I battled throughout the entire race. It was rewarding because of the hard work that I’ve put into running.”
On the girls’ side, Putnam eighth grader Abby Daniels finished in second place, crossing the line in 14:47.1.

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