The Concord Academy boys varsity cross-country team enjoyed a special season this fall. The squad entered the postseason with an impressive undefeated regular season record. They went on to run the table in the postseason as well by earning an EIL title and the program’s first-ever NEPSAC championship.
On November 2, Concord Academy hosted the EIL championship meet at its home course at Great Brook State Park in Carlisle, Mass. The meet gave the program a chance to share this special venue with their league competitors with the EIL title on the line.
As they had two weeks earlier, Concord Academy and Landmark ran desperately close for the entire race, with Concord holding a slight edge based on its top three runners, who would all finish in the top six. In the end, the difference was a strong showing from Concord’s fourth and fifth runners, who both ran personal bests. The boys emerged as the 2018 EIL cross-country champions.
The following week at the NEPSAC Division III Cross-Country Championships at Canterbury School in New Milford, Conn., the CA boys team capped off their undefeated season by earning the NEPSAC title for the first time in the program’s history. While the honor was a first for the boys cross-country team, it marked the fifth NEPSAC championship in school history for Concord Academy, following the girls varsity squash title in 2017.
The victory did not come easily, as several of Concord’s runners had to overcome adversity during the race, including a fall near the start, a foot injury, and a cramp that struck in the middle of the race. Nevertheless, each runner battled back, with five of the team’s seven varsity runners setting personal bests on the challenging Canterbury course.
“From top to bottom, this year’s team was committed to constant improvement and demonstrated uncommon focus and resolve in the team’s last few meets when it mattered most,” CA cross-country coach Jon Waldron said. “At NEPSACs, the team wasn’t thinking about a championship, only about running their best on that day, and they did.”
Congratulations to all of the athletes and coaches on a most impressive showing this season.
“From top to bottom, this year’s team was committed to constant improvement and demonstrated uncommon focus and resolve in the team’s last few meets when it mattered most.”