Canton cross country falls back to the pack

The Warriors have fallen back into the pack. Canton will be good but they probably won’t be a title contender. Ellington, Bolton, Coventry and Suffield look sharp and Avon is a deep team that will probably keep them in contention.The Canton girls cross country team hopes to build upon its success of a year ago. The Warriors, who had a winning season (7-6), return virtually their entire starting lineup.

The boys team (9-4, 9-4 NCCC) lost their top four runners including their top runner Matt DeMarco and their No. 3 runner Julian Franklin. The Warriors will look to the Yost brothers (James and Dean) to lead the squad this fall. Athan Chekas, who ran on the 2011 team, returns after spending a year playing soccer.Three sophomores – Zach Oliver, Jake Whittingslow and Will Briggs – hope to crack the varsity lineup.“We have a couple of newcomers who have been able to hold their own in practice and there are a number of runners who have made significant improvement,” Canton coach Tim O’Donnell said. “I would say we’re looking to finish in the top five of the conference and try to be in the top four in Class SS.”Last year, Canton was fifth in the NCCC and third in Class SS, sparked by DeMarco who was sixth in Class SS and earned a berth at the State Open.

The Canton girls cross country team (7-6, 7-6 NCCC) returns virtually its entire squad. Four different girls ran in the No. 1 spot a year ago and they are all back – Eliza Chekas, Leigh Ann Rossitto, Emily Coleman and Emma Frawley. Veteran runner Emily Jarka also returns.

Freshmen Emily Briggs and Ali Bahre provide some depth and competition for the other runners on the squad.

What can Canton accomplish? The NCCC is tough with defending Class MM champion Avon and outstanding programs in Ellington and Granby. But Canton hopes to improve on its performances from a year ago. The Warriors were sixth at the NCCC championship meet and sixth in Class S.

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