Xavier CT adds another title at New England Championships

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Xavier CT cross country coach Chris Stonier took his athletes into the gymnasium Thursday where they saw the Connecticut State Open championship banner updated with the year 2017. Next to it was the New England banner with the last championship listed as 1997. 

"We talked about how good that felt and they had made their mark as one of the best Xavier teams in history," Stonier said. "And then we turned to the New England Championships and we recognized it had been 20 years since we came away with a win. And the tone at that moment changed from being one of the best Xavier teams ever, to being one of the best Connecticut teams ever."

Saturday in Belfast, Maine at the New England Cross Country Championships, Xavier added to its legacy and can now call itself one of the best ever. Led by junior Dillon Selfors, the Falcons placed all five runners in the top 31 to score 74 points and win the title. 

"It's incredible," Stonier said. "This group of guys is all so different, but they are all coachable, every single one of them."

Individually, Fairield Prep CT senior Drew Thompson, No. 14 in the latest DyeStat.com rankings, absolutely dominated the 5,000-meter course at Troy Howard Middle School, winning in 15 minutes, 16.6 seconds. Second place went to Riley Fenoff of Danville VT in 15:48.4. 

Selfors finished 12th overall in 16:02.0, while teammate Owen Curran was right behind in 16:02.3 for Xavier. 

Xavier, which has battled in-state rival Staples all season, took down the Wreckers, who placed second (103) and nationally ranked Bishop Hendricken of Rhode Island, third with 126 points.

Stonier said he's kept up with the states and results and knew how to prepare for a different style of race Saturday. 

"The game plan was to go out fast and really hard," Stonier said. "They understood what needed to happen."

It's been a dream season for Xavier, which won the Wickham Park Invitational and Southern Connecticut Conference Championships in October, and added a State Open title last weekend. The Falcons will now turn their attention Nov. 25 to Nike Cross Northeast and see what they can do.

"I don't think there's anything this team thinks they can't accomplish," Stonier said. 

In the girls race, junior Julia Robitaille of Manchester West NH took down defending champion Jackie Gaughan in a surprising result to win the race in a course-record time of 17:31.6. Senior Eleanor Lawler of South Kingstown RI was second (17:40.5). Gaughan of Exeter NH finished in sixth place (18:06.5).

The team title went to Pinkerton NH with 163 points, while Bishop Guertin of NH was second (183). Glastonbury CT was third (212). 

RESULTS

Team Champions

Boys - Xavier CT 74 points

Girls - Pinkerton NH 163 points