Hazen Union XC Middle School Boys
Losada Stoddard competed Sunday in his first middle school cross country state championship race. The Hazen Union sixth-grader helped the Wildcat boys to place 18th of 30 scoring teams.
ST. ALBANS ̶ Hazen Union brought a full boys team to Sunday’s Vermont Middle School Cross Country State Championship. The 3k races for boys and girls were held at the Hard’Ack Recreational Area. The Wildcat boys placed 18th of 30 scoring teams at the event. A team must have at least five members to score.
Thomas Kehler led the Hazen Union squad. His time of 10:51 placed 27th of 283 boys. Manny Fliegelman finished 70th in 11:45. Daniel Pougnier (12:29), Bryce Laraway (13:38), and Losada Stoddard (13:57) rounded out the impressive Wildcat effort.
Kehler, Fliegelman, Pougnier, and Laraway are eighth graders. Stoddard is a sixth-grader.
“It was a gorgeous day to run,” said Hazen Union coach Netdahe Stoddard. “If my runners had any complaint, it was that the lack of hills did not fully play to our strengths. The course was fairly muddy and slick despite the ideal weather. All our runners ran great races and had fun. Their overall team score shines a light on what strong runners each one of them is.”
Mack Gardner-Morse of Calais donned a handmade bat costume for Sunday’s Autumn Onion 5k race. Gardner-Morse, 61, placed fourth of 37 finishers in the annual Halloween race through downtown Montpelier.
Costumed Capers in Capital City
MONTPELIER – A hardy cohort of 37 costumed competitors cavorted on downtown streets in Sunday’s Autumn Onion 5k. Patrick Kantlehner, Timnah Zimet and Celia Riechel were the fastest male, nonbinary, and female finishers in the downtown race. Their respective times were 20:00, 23:23, and 23:40. Mack Gardner-Morse, 61, flew to the finish in a bat costume. The caped crusader from Calais placed fourth overall in 21:49.
Podium Finishes for Modry and English
SHELBURNE ̶ Saturday’s Union Bank Field House Fall 10k and Half Marathon drew a diverse field, including a few local runners. Rose Modry, 43, from Greensboro was the third-fastest female finisher in the 10k race. Her time of 45:36 placed ninth overall among 87 finishers.
“I felt great and the weather was grand,” said Modry. “It was fun to cheer on friends, as the 10k and half marathon had overlapping courses.”
Modry’s Greensboro neighbor, Xin Yang, 52, placed 28th. Her time of 55:28 won the F50-54 age group.
Maxfield English, 46, from Wolcott, placed third in the half marathon out of 115 finishers. He averaged 6:07 per mile, finishing the 13.1-mile course in 1:20:07.
“Conditions started cool/cold. The sun finally poked out and highlighted the scenery, while adding just the right touch of warmth,” said English.
Hazen Union eighth grader Thomas Kehler finished in the top 10 percent of runners at Sunday’s Vermont Middle School Cross Country Championship.
Fallen Leaves Race Series Begins November 5
MONTPELIER ̶ The Fallen Leaves Race Series provides area runners with another chance to try for a personal 5k best. The low-key races on November 5, 12, and 19 are held at Montpelier High School. Runners start and finish on the dirt track. The fast flat course includes an out-and-back section on the Montpelier Bike Path. The race entry fee is $5. Day of Race registration is from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. The start time is at 9 a.m. Age group prizes are awarded. More information is available online at cvrunners.org.
