Wave, Spartan runners excel in state cross country

Disappointed not be state champs yet proud of their newly earned state class 'LL' runerup plaque are,from left to right, Jay Humphreys, Zach Guptill, John Hansell, Ryan Clarke, Adam Dengler and Hugh Sichel of New Milford High School boys' cross country. Oct. 27, 2012 at Wickham Park in Manchester Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Sofia Amaral, left, and teammate Marissa Stumpf stick together throughout the state class 'LL' championship race at scenic Wickham Park in Manchester en route to respective 28th- and 29th-place finishes for New Milford High School girls' cross country. Oct. 27, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Ellery Rourk gives 100 percent Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 to close fast in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Tom Scarola's Shepaug Valley High School boys' cross country squad. Photo: Norm Cummings

Title-hopeful Logan Ross, right, of Shepaug Valley High Schol boys' cross country matches strides in the early going of the state class 'S' race with fellow frontrunners en route to a third-place individual finish. Photo: Norm Cummings

Clara Wolfe of the Spartans registers an eighth-place finish in the state class 'S' race at Wickham Park in Manchester tolead Shepaug Valley High School girls' cross country to a solid fifth-place term performance. Oct. 27, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

Roboin Carlson of Warren churns out the final yards of the state class 'S' race at Wickham Park in Manchester Saturday to claim 10th place individually and spark the Wamogo girls' cross country team to 16th place in the field. Oct. 27, 2012 Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Ryan Clarke competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Chris Bacich's New Milford High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's John Hansell competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Chris Bacich's New Milford High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Greg Hansell competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Chris Bacich's New Milford High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's John Hansell competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Chris Bacich's New Milford High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Jay Humphreys attempts to overtake Mitchell Brown of Xavier during the final strides Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Chris Bacich's New Milford High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Jessica Noteware competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Jessica Noteware competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Sofia Amaral (64) and Marissa Stumpf duel Elizabeth Salzman of Hall High down the stretch Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 during the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Carly Kleinstern competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Carly Kleinstern competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Emily Day competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Emily Day competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Alexis Kersten matches strides with a pair of Cheshire runners Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 during the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Nicole McCarthy, center,competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Green Wave's Nicole McCarthy competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'LL' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Giles Vaughan's New Milford High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Logan Ross competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Tom Scarola's Shepaug Valley High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Clayton Firmender closes strong, closely followed by teammate Ed Wolfe, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Tom Scarola's Shepaug Valley High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Ed Wolfe competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Tom Scarola's Shepaug Valley High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Steve Williams competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Tom Scarola's Shepaug Valley High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Bill Heyne kicks home to edge Mohammed Khadeer of Capital Prep Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Tom Scarola's Shepaug Valley High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Sean Leveille competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Tom Scarola's Shepaug Valley High School boys' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

Already well in front of the pack, the Spartans' Clara Wolfe runs alongside Samantha Nyser of Bolton about a half-mile into the race Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Michael Hall's Shepaug Valley High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Kelsey Hall competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Michael Hall's Shepaug Valley High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Kendall Ross competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Michael Hall's Shepaug Valley High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Kendall Ross competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Michael Hall's Shepaug Valley High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Sarah Williams competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Michael Hall's Shepaug Valley High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

The Spartans' Jemma Roche overtakes Emma Caisse of Terryvile Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Michael Hall's Shepaug Valley High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings

Brooke Parker of the Spartans competes Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 in the state class 'S' championship race at Wickham Park for coach Michael Hall's Shepaug Valley High School girls' cross country team. Photo: Norm Cummings