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WESTON, Conn. Westons boys cross country team fired an opening salvo to the rest of the South-West Conference in its first meet of the season. And with a deep and swift running pack, the Trojans might not be done surprising top teams from around the state.
Weston defeated New Milford by a point, 27-28, in its season opener. New Milford is one of the states top programs, with 11 straight South-West Conference titles and a State Open title. Weston also beat Brookfield and Immaculate in that race and swept a quad meet Wednesday in Bethel to jump out to a 6-0 start in the league.
We came into the New Milford race, and not many people knew about us, senior Noah Krassin said. I dont blame them. We havent done much the last two years. ... Coming away with the win was a nice slap on the back, kind of telling us, Guys, youre putting in the work. You earned that.
The teams will meet again at the South-West Conference championship meet in Bethel on Oct. 18. New Fairfield, Newtown and Pomperaug will also be factors in that race for the title.
The strength for Weston is its depth. Krassin and David Stankiewicz are the pack front-runners. James Murphy, Sam Augustyn, Wlll Glaser, Matt Proctor, Matt Bolin and Michael Aaron are close behind. Coach Marty Ogden also expects Cole Clark to be among Westons top seven when he returns from a minor injury. Weston finished sixth in the Windham Invitational without two of its top seven, and its top five was separated by just 43 seconds.
Putting all the pieces together is Ogden, who won four State Open titles while at Danbury and was a finalist for the national cross country coach of the year award in 2011.
Were much deeper than we have been in past years, Krassin said. Now we have guys who are the sixth and seventh runners who can displace people. Its only a point or two, but it can make a big difference.
Weston won Class SS titles in 2006, 2008 and 2009. Weston took third in Class M last fall and has nearly everybody back from that squad. The team has set high goals this fall.
We havent made a name for ourselves in the State Open, Krassin said. My freshman year was pretty good (ninth). We looked up to that team. They were the one team that made an impact. I want to be like them.
Championship races are run in October and November, but champions are made in the summer. Weston did its homework in July and August, and now, barring injuries, its poised to reap the rewards.
I always liked to wear the blue and gold, Krassin said. As a senior, Im pumped that this is going to be such good team.
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