By Sherri Smith

EAST HARTFORD - The Newtown boys’ cross country team competed in the Wickham Invitational on October 9 in East Hartford, Connecticut.

Newtown varsity runners had a very respectable showing, placing ninth overall in the seeded varsity race.

Seven athletes competed in the varsity race, Joe Blanchard placing first for his team, 38th overall in the race with a time of 17:48. Chris Carolan ran 44th in 17:57; Jeff Heller, 45th in 17:57; Ryan Ignatius, 119th in 19:07; Ryan Walker, 121st in 19:10; AJ Palmer, 131st in 19:23 and Stu Ratcliff ran 176th overall in 20:12.

“I was very pleased with the way the kids ran,” said head coach Rich Pesce. “I wanted the boys to go out hard, run a competitive race and to do well.” The boys did do well, placing sixth overall when out-of-state teams were displaced from the standings.

The junior varsity runners also had a very good showing, eleven runners competing in the jayvee race. Micah Uhrlass ran 69th overall in the race with a time of 20:19. Teammates in order of finish were Ed Tella, 146th in 21:09; Andrew Lysaght, 171st in 21:25; Brandon Kirch, 214th in  21:58; Chris DiNoto, 228th in 22:07; Jeff King, 229th in 22:08; Paul Krasowski, 299th in 22:46; Peter Terrance, 341st in 23:07; Dana Robinson, 362nd in 23:20; Steve Byers ran 24:31 and James Dellasala ran 493rd with a time of 25:36.

By competing in different invitationals around the state, Pesce can get a good look at the competition and analyze how his team needs to improve in large race situations. It not only prepares the team for the end of the season conference championship and state competitions, it helps them learn the strategies of running cross country.

Newtown runners competed in their final conference meet on October 14th against Notre Dame, Foran at Laurelton Hall. The South West Conference championships will be held Thursday, October 21st at Bethel High School.