Biggs and Rehm Continue to Impress for the Bunnell Bulldogs

On Tuesday September 22nd, , the Bunnell High School Boys and Girls Cross Country teams traveled to Joel Barlow High School to meet up with the Falcons, the Brookfield Bobcats,and the Harding Presidents in the second week of 5K action in the South West Conference.

A partly sunny day, temperatures in the cool middle 60’s, with a northerly breeze at times greeted runners, coaches, along with numerous spectators. The first day of fall surrounded the highly rated Joel Barlow course.

The course is noted by many as a true cross country course.

The course contained acres of freshly cut grass, a rugged wooded trail, an asphalt leadway, several wavy manageable hills, and one of the longest winding home stretches to the finish line in the league.

This afternoon Joel Barlow celebrated its Senior Night. Prior to the start of each race legendary Joel Barlow Coach Jerry Bielizna called all seniors, from each team, out to the forefront acknowledging them and wishing them all the best in the years ahead.

With that, Bielizna sounded the opening blast and the girls race was underway.

Barlow’s Kate Duggan took right off and had the early lead followed by teammate Clara Mehner and a crowded field in the middle of the pack.

Twenty-two runners in all.

Nearing the one mile mark Duggan was out in front with a solid lead of twenty-five seconds over Mehner.

Bunnell’s Peyton Biggs was third.

In fourth was Brookfield’s Annabella Carr.

Staying nip and tuck were the next five runners, Barlow’s Vivian D’Amico, Brookfield’s Zoey Abernethy, Julia Hovdestad, and Jayleen Ogando, and Barlow’s Sadie Troy. Behind this group and rounding the top ten was Brookfield’s Maya Khlalidi.

Going into the wooded area the race started to single file out with these five. Each knew they were playing a huge part in team scoring.

When they came out of the woods and entered the race’s final leg and home stretch Duggan opened up a forty second lead over Mehner.

Biggs alone in third with Carr in pursuit. It would become the photo finish of the race.

Duggan crossed the line in a time of 21:09 taking first place. Mehner in at second with a time of 21:51.

The crowd turned its attention to Biggs and Carr. Carr closing in on Biggs with seventy five meters to go. Biggs trying to hold on now with forty meters to go. Carr showing determination, Biggs wearing down, now shoulder to shoulder with only feet to go. Carr would just get ahead of Biggs to take third.

Both were given a time of 23:05.

In fifth Ogando at 23:19, in sixth Hovdestad at 23:41, in seventh D’Amico at 23:42.

In team scoring three were in for Barlow and three were in for Brookfield. The next few finishers from these teams would determine the outcome of the meet.

The first five finishers by one team score points for their team in the low point wins scoring system. Runners six and seven break any ties.

Brookfield’s Abernethy came in eighth at 23:51.

Barlow’s Troy came in ninth at 23:57.

Brookfield’s Khalidi came in at tenth with a time of 24:37 giving Brookfield a two point win 38-40.

Brookfield over Bunnell 15-50 and Barlow over Bunnell 15-50.

The remaining Bunnell finishers were Abbi Forcier with a time of 27:27 and Haneeya Gbadamassi in at 27:41.

The boys were now at the starting line awaiting Coach Bielizna final instructions. Bielizna sounded the starter pistol blast and off went the field of thirty-one.

Barlow’s Max Mehner, Brookfield’s Jake Cowen and Ryan Scelia, along with Bunnell’s Andrew Rehm, jumped out as the field began to thin out going into the quarter mile mark,

Getting into the mix just a few seconds off the pace were Barlow’s Ryan Wheatley and Emmett Shamsi, Brookfield’s Kevin Scelia and Connor Sanford, and right there with them were Bunnell’s Alden Clarke and Blake Staffey rounding out the top ten.

Going into mile one the crowd lined up along the asphalt portion of the raceway noting the shuffling of positions.

Mile two went into the wooded area of course and when they emerged the race had taken shape with Mehner in the lead comfortably over Rehm followed by R.Scelia, Cowden, Shamsi, and Clarke.

Mehner crossed the line first with a 17:01 time, Rehm second at 17:31, in third R. Scelia at 17:46.

Fourth place was Cowden at 18:32, in fifth was Shamsi at 18:43, and Clarke sixth at 19:18.

The race for seventh became very intense.

Staffey was holding a two second lead over Wheatley but Wheatley was hard charging with two hundred fifty meters to go sending the finish line crowd into a hometown frenzy.

As both neared the finish line Wheatley with a left leg fully extended got over the line and was given the decision.

Rounding out the top ten Sanford took ninth at 19:33 and in tenth was K.Scelia at 20:04.

In team scoring Barlow and Bunnell had three runners across the line, Brookfield had four.

The all important fifth runner, Meetansh Dhote (20:19) , for Brookfield came in eleventh sealing a sweep over everyone.

Barlow’s Dideir Mejia-Momeau (14th) 20:54 and Jake Laedke (15th) 21:31 cruised in giving Barlow two wins on the afternoon.

Final scores on the afternoon Brookfield 26 Barlow 33, Brookfield 15 Harding 50, Brookfield 26 Bunnell 33, Barlow 24 Bunnell 33, Barlow 15 Harding 50, and Bunnell 15 Harding 50.

Bunnell’s remaining finishers were Miles Montrassio at 22:26, Holden Adams at 23:15, Michael Basciano making his season debut at 24:51, and Santiago Penada at 26:18.

Up next for the Bulldogs, Tuesday September 29th, at Bethel High School, against the Wildcats, the Lancers of Notre-Dame Prep Fairfield, and the Stratford Red Devils.