The first five meets of the cross-country season have revealed strong runners and the power of team camaraderie. Sixth Form team captains Joey Kauffman and Colin Kelly continue to lead the Fords’ young team to strong performances.
The season opened with a tri-meet against Penn Charter and Malvern Prep at Belmont Plateau. The team came in third. The meet saw strong performances from Colin Kelly, Fourth Former Finn Kelly, Sixth Former Joey Kauffman, and Third Former James MacColl.
The next meet was the George School Invite, where the team found its footing, coming in ninth place out of eighteen teams. Kauffman and Fourth Former Mason Weigand put in standout performances. When Kauffman took a minute off of his 5K time, he observed that his PR, “was a nice surprise.”
The third meet of the season was Inter League Play at Belmont Plateau. The team came in third place out of all Inter-Ac teams. The top finisher was Fourth Former Alex Dardarian, who came in with a time of 19 minutes flat.
The most recent meet was the Whippets Invitational. Again the Fourth Formers led the team with outstanding performances from Dardarian, French, and Weigand.
“Talking to the captains before the race helps lift your spirits and makes you ready for what is coming,” Dardarian said.
Many runners like Dardarian have credited their strong performances to the work of the captains.
“Joey Kauffman and Colin Kelly have done a great job at bringing people together, no matter their skill set,” MacColl said. “They have helped us persevere through the hardships of the sport. Without this, I would not have been able to become the runner I am currently.”
The fourth meet of the season against Germantown Academy also had strong performances from Fourth Former Liam French, who appreciates his experience on the team this year.
“Colin and Joey have a great dynamic as team captains. They are motivated. They help build a great sense of community on the team,” French said.
The most recent meet was the Whippets Invitational. Again the Fourth Formers led the team with outstanding performances from Dardarian, French, and Weigand.
The team now looks forward to its championship season with Inter-Ac Championships taking place on October 17, PAISAA Championships on the 29th, and eagerly anticipated EA Day in November.
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