The boys’ and girls’ cross country state championships will take place Saturday at Wickham Park in Manchester. Register cross country writer Chris Hunn predicts all the winners.



Girls’ races

Class S: Individual champion Jennifer Ross, Old Lyme; Team champion: Thomaston

Class SS: Individual champion: Desiree Piette, Granby Memorial; Team champion: Griswold

Class M: Individual champion: Jackie Nicholas, Nonnewaug; Team champion: Hillhouse

Class MM: Individual champion: Sarah Cotton, Hand; Team champion: Guilford

Class L: Individual champion: Brittany Mendelson, Pomperaug; Team champion: Pomperaug

Class LL: Individual champion: Lindsay Crevoiserat; Team champion: Glastonbury


Boys’ races

Class S: Individual champion: Dan Fields, Lyman Memorial; Team champion: Shepaug Valley

Class SS: Individual champion: Alex Morin, Coginchaug; Team champion: Canton

Class M: Individual champion: Trevor Lafontaine, Tolland; Team champion: Tolland

Class MM: Individual champion: Spencer Mannion, Brookfield; Team champion: Guilford

Class L: Individual champion: Colin McCrory, Pomperaug; Team champion: Darien

Class LL: Individual champion: Connor Rog, Fairfield Prep; Team champion: Danbury



Boys’ races

Class S , 9:50 a.m.

Class SS, 10:55 a.m.

Class M, noon

Class MM, 1:35 p.m.

Class L, 2:40 p.m.

Class LL, 3:45 p.m.

Girls’ races

Class S, 9:15 a.m.

Class SS, 10:25 a.m.

Class M, 11:25 a.m.

Class MM, 1 p.m.

Class L, 2:05 p.m.

Class LL, 3:10 p.m.

Check out some cross country notes here.

Check out the latest boys' and girls' coaches' cross country poll here.

Junior Connor Rog led the Jesuits to their 15-48 win over Shelton with a 14:59.7 mark.
His time broke the 2.95-mile course record at Fairfield University.

The New England Cross Country Championships will take place Saturday at Wickham Park in Manchester, with the girls' race at 11:30 a.m. and the boys' race at 12:30 p.m.
Here is a look at the expected weather

Here is a look at some area runners and teams to keep an eye on in the boys' race...

Sean Mueller, Cheshire: Coming off a third-place finish at the State Open.
Ryan Laemel, Amity: Led the Spartans to a third-place finish at the State Open.
Chris FitzSimons, Hamden: First year running cross country and seems to be getting better with every race.
Connor Rog, Fairfield Prep: Was sick at State Open, but finished 13th. Look for him to bounce back. Won title at the Class LL meet.
Xavier: Falcons have been unstoppable. Won SCC, Class LL and State Open title. Should finish in top three at the regional meet.
Hamden: Clinched program's first New England berth.

And on the girls' side...

Lauren Sara, Bunnell: A competitor. Endurance is her strength, not speed. Weather may favor her.
Kellie Davis, Career: Should cap her impressive freshman season with a solid performance.
Rosa Moriello, Naugatuck: Placed fifth at the State Open.
Guilford: Winning the State Open was a surprise. How will the Indians follow up?

Did you know?
The last time Wickham Park held the State Open was 2004. Runners competed on a snow-covered course.

After hosting the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships Northeast Regional for 30 years, Van Corlandt Park in Bronx, N.Y., will not host the event due to construction.
The event will take place at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park, N.Y., on Nov. 28.

The Guilford girls' cross country team even surprised itself, winning its first State Open title since 2002. Coach Jim Ford said the Indians were hoping to get in the top six, so they can qualify for next Saturday's New England Championships. Ford said some of his girls ran 1 minute better than they did all season. This was a team that was affected by the swine flu outbreak that hit Guilford high school last month and saw its streak of five straight SCC titles come to an end.
Junior Val Williams led the Indians Friday with a mark of 19 minutes, 32 seconds. That was good for 16th place. Now the question is how will the Indians fare at the regional meet?
Other notable performances from Friday...
-Xavier won its first State Open title since 1999.
-Sean Mueller of Cheshire was the top area finisher, placing third in the boys' race with a time 16:00.
-The Amity boys' team earned a New England Championship berth.
-As did Hamden, its first in school history. The Green Dragons gave the SCC three teams in the regional meet. Only six qualify.
-Bunnell senior Lauren Sara was the top area girls' finisher, finishing fourth (18:29).
-SCC champion Sarah Cotton didn't make the cut. She finished 32nd. Only the top 25 individual runners qualify. Cotton was sick all week, leading up to the race.

For a complete look at the boys' race results click here
For a complete look at the girls' race results click here