Connecticut Teams Sweep Top Three Boys Team Spots; Champlain Valley VT Girls Win; Ruth White Wins 3rd New England Title On Home Soil

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

MySportsResults Photos and Recap (Marty Ogden and Ron Knapp)

The Ridgefield boys cross country team continued to cement its legacy Saturday as one of the best programs in Connecticut at the New England Championships.

Traveling up to Belfast, Maine to run against the top teams, the Tigers ran away with their first title, scoring 57 points. Danbury CT was second (181 points) and Xavier scored 200 points to make it a top three sweep of Connecticut teams. 

Ridgefield was paced by standout distance runner Steven Hergenrother, who covered the 5,000-meter course at Troy Howard Middle School in 15 minutes, 21.87 seconds. The Tigers had four runners in the top 31 overall. Second place went to Isaac Mahler of Hall CT in 15:36.30, and Griffin Mandirola of Suffield CT was third in 15:39.33. 

Running in her final high school cross country race in Maine, Ruth White left her mark. The Orono senior won her third consecutive New England title in convincing fashion, crossing the finish line in 17:12.25. Second place was fellow Mainer Teanna Ewings of Houlton in 17:39. Brooke Strauss of Glastonbury CT was third (17:49.72). 

Next up for White, who is committed to run for Boise State next fall, will be the Foot Locker Northeast Regionals in Boston with an opportunity to qualify once again for the national meet in San Diego. 

Champlain Valley Union of Vermont scored 97 points to win the title. This was the program’s seventh in program history. Oyster River of NH was second (130) and Pinkerton of NH was third (198). 

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Ridgefield CT boys 57 points; Champlain Valley Union VT girls 97 points - RESULTS