By Michael Letendre
NEW BRITAIN – The Central Connecticut Conference Region B girls cross country championships, held at Stanley Quarter Park in New Britain on Tuesday, was another excellent event to showcase the talent of the division and the two teams from Bristol.
Both the programs from Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern were involved at the event and the Lancers were just a little bit better that day on the course – placing fourth overall as a team.
Eastern (105) was just seven spots better than Central – underscoring how close the ultimate finish was between the competitive teams in town.
And over the top-six finishers at the event, two of those runners were from Bristol.
Coming in third place was Central’s Natalia Popielarz, who ran a fantastic 19:30 and was just nine seconds off the finish of Southington’s Jacqueline Izzo, who was the runner-up.
The senior from Central had an excellent pace time of 6:18.
And in sixth place was Eastern’s Fiona Gallagher as she finished with a time of 20:52 to round out another excellent effort by the junior runner.
Southington, who easily won the Region B championship, had four runners finish among the top five finishes.
Senior Grace Michaud won the afternoon by crossing the finish line in 18:35.
Farmington (73 points) was the runner-up at the event while Avon (98) took third and was just a bit faster than the Lancers.
Eastern’s Sophia Andrade took 13th place in 21:43 which was her personal best while fellow senior Avery Braccia placed 15th overall in 21:55.
Central’s contingent of senior Bella Crandall (16th, 21:58), Ahngied Velecela (28th, 24:11), Marisa Heller (34th, 25:13) also ran the course well while Eastern’s Lauren Ayotte (36th, 25:58) made an excellent finish and had the 11th fastest time for a freshman that afternoon.
Also running well for the Rams was Katie Tran (39th, 26:08) and Jesxmiah Torres (41st, 26:33) while Sarah Cody (43rd, 28:02), Audrey Perry (44th, 29:07), Isabella Fulton (45th, 29:31) did the same for the Lancers.
And the rumor that Fulton just missed running into a deer was indeed true.
Central Connecticut Conference Region B Championship
Stanley Quarter Park, New Britain – November 10, 2020
Girls Varsity Race #1 (5K)
Champion: Southington (21 points)
Runner-up: Farmington (73)
3. Avon (98)
4. Bristol Eastern (105)
5. Lewis Mills (110)
6. Bristol Central (112)
Individual – Top 6
Name School Time
Winner: Grace Michaud Southington 18:35
Runner-up: Jacqueline Izzo Southington 19:21
3. Natalia Popielarz Bristol Central 19:30
4. Jessica Lombardo Southington 19:41
5. Frenchie Riccio Southington 20:12
6. Fiona Gallagher Bristol Eastern 20:52
Bristol Central: Bella Crandall (16th, 21:58), Ahngied Velecela (28th, 24:11), Marisa Heller (34th, 25:13), Katie Tran (39th, 26:08), Jesxmiah Torres (41st, 26:33).
Bristol Eastern: Sophia Andrade (13th, 21:43), Avery Braccia (15th, 21:55), Lauren Ayotte (36th, 25:58), Sarah Cody (43rd, 28:02), Audrey Perry (44th, 29:07), Isabella Fulton (45th, 29:31)
