Boys cross country: Weston captures third

Written by Rocco Valluzzo
Thursday, 29 October 2009 11:05

Weston High boys cross country coach Marty Ogden could not help but wonder after the South-West Conference finals last week.

By taking third overall with a score of 95, the Trojans actually had their highest finish since 2005. Still, he thought if his team practiced differently earlier in the week it could have done even better.

“We didn’t do the right stuff this week,” said Ogden, who blamed himself. “It’s something we have to reflect on and go back to the drawing board.”

Defending champ New Milford was the winner again, winning its ninth straight league crown with a score of 45. Pomperaug, the only other team to defeat Weston this season, was second with 55.

The Trojans’ top finisher has varied a number of times this season. Last Thursday it was James Bloom with a time of 17:19.53 on the 3.1-mile course. Such was good enough to put him seventh out of more than 90 runners, making him the only one from Weston to make the All-SWC team.

They had two others finish in the top 25, both making the All-SWC second team. Taking 16th, Steve Vento finished in 17:42.93.

Also making the All-SWC second team, Steve Piscatelli ran a 17:56.88, putting him 19th overall. Ryan Gilmore also made the All-SWC second team in 18:14.94, taking 24th, less than a second behind Newtown’s Jake Feinstein. Chris Piscatelli got All-SWC second team selection, taking 27th in 18:20.05.

It was a close race for the 45th position. Andrew Nakas would take it in 19:10.73, less than a second ahead of Bethel’s Robert Denninger and completing the scoring for Weston.

Also in the race, Jack Curran finished in 20:07.03, taking 63rd.

Weston will now set its sights on the state Class SS race on Saturday at Wickham Park in Manchester.