PSATs force strong runners out of Harwood Invitational

The Harwood cross country program will host its 22nd annual Harwood Co-Ed Invitational this weekend, but some familiar (and famous in the state's high school running circles) faces will not be competing because of the PSAT testing date, also Saturday.

Harwood issued a press release about the event, and here it is:

"The 22nd Annual Harwood Cross Country Invitational will take place this Saturday, October 17, 2009, on the campus of Harwood Union High School in South Duxbury. High School race will begin @ 11:00.

 The Co-Ed Invitational is unique in the fact that the Varsity Boys and Girls team scores are added together for a combined school score. Perennial champion Champlain Valley and several Chittenden County schools have opted out of the race this year because of conflicts with the PSATs.  However, many of the best cross country teams in central Vermont will be in full force to run the challenging 5K course.

The course is contained entirely on the 186-acre campus of Harwood Union High School. Harwood is located on VT Route 100 halfway between Waterbury and the Mad River Valley. “It is arguably the toughest 5K course in New England. It may be the toughest home high school course in the U.S." longtime coach John Kerrigan said. "The course has a series of hills that create a rise in elevation of over 300 feet. It is not the hills so much as their location. The most challenging hills are located between the 1.5 and 2.5 mile marks. This race course is excellent preparation for the State meet course in Thetford.”

The boys varsity race should be a battle between Montpelier, U-32, Milton, GMVS and Harwood.

 

“We have been very close to each other all season. It will be nice to have our challengers come to our house this Saturday,” Kerrigan said.

 

The Harwood boys are the two-time defending Vermont Division II champions. Harwood is still in the mix in D-II despite having graduated 12 of 19 runners from last year’s state championship team.

Individually, Waitsfield resident David Sinclair of GMVS should be the favorite. David is the defending D-I individual Vermont state champion. He will be challenged by Harwood’s Tim Shepard, who finished just a split second behind him at Thetford.

 

"It is going to be the race of the day, Tim and David were teammates when they both ran for Harwood Middle School,” Kerrigan said. 

 

Sam Brigham of Montpelier and Dylan Hatch of U-32 could also surprise the local favorites.

The Harwood girls should be strong favorites for the girls team title. They are undefeated against Division II teams. Their toughest competition should come from GMVS. Several of the GMVS girls ran for Harwood in the past and are familiar with the challenging course.

 

Individually Chelsea Evans (U-32), Elena Luethi (GMVS), Laura Mears and Ali Dunn (Montpelier), Meghan Flint (Missisquoi Valley), Jill Mendes and Laurel Whitney of Harwood should all be very close.

 

"I have already staked out a spot on the bottom of the Killer hill to watch this one,” Kerrigan said."

 

 

--Anna Grearson