Runners from over 20 schools traveled to the South Duxbury campus of the Harwood Union Highlanders last Saturday, October 13, to compete at the 31st annual Harwood Co-Ed Invitational. The meet format is unique in that both the boys’ and girls’ team scores are combined to determine the co-ed champion.
Harwood runners defended their home turf and retained the Hannah the Bear trophy for another year.
Harwood senior Brendan Magill was running in his last home meet for his team. It was an emotional day for Magill. Friends and family came out to watch the diminutive, soft-spoken, team co-captain on home turf. Magill has been running XC at Harwood since seventh grade, many of those years in the shadow of big sister, Erin Magill. He took charge early in the race and never looked back and won easily.
“It was a great finish for a great kid,” said coach John Kerrigan. Magill had a strong team behind him. Freshman Hale Boyden (3) is ready to take the charge as lead runner in 2019. He was followed by Carlton Cummiskey (4), Luke Groom (9) and Vinny Spina (15) to give Harwood a 43-point lead over the U-32 squad.
Harwood girls shocked the field by defeating 2017 state champion U-32. The latest coaches’ poll showed HU well behind U-32 in the standings. Kerrigan was surprised to find his first three runners ahead of the No. 2 runner from U-32.
Ava Thurston and co-captain teammate Julianne Young ran most of the way together. Thurston crossed the finish line first and now has had three victories in her last four races. The duo was followed by Britta Zetterstrom (6), Caelyn McDonough (12), Laura Martinez (19) and Hadley Kielich (23). Their efforts gave HU a decisive victory over the 2017 Vermont state champions.
“Britta had a breakout race today. She can look back at today and say, ‘That was the day I broke the barrier, the day I became an elite racer,’” said Kerrigan.
Harwood’s JV runners did not disappoint. Harwood JV boys placed four boys in the top 13 in the JV race. Winter Haberle (7), Ebbe Lillis (9), Jack Lamphere finished just off the podium in 11th and Mason Berry finished 13th.
The girls JV placed Winn Gillen (12th), Mackenzie Greenberg (14), Sydney Kulis (19) and Hannah Clark (21).
“Our runners are coming together as a team. Our fourth and fifth runners are starting to close the wide gap that existed during the early part of the season. They are peaking at just the right time. We have our league and state championship meets coming in the next two weeks and I am really looking forward to it,” said Kerrigan.
Harwood competes for the NVAC (Mountain Division) title Saturday, October 20, at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. High school races begin at 11 a.m.
