MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Boys Win Championship for Third Year in a Row

  The boys’ cross-country track team at Memorial Middle School won the Connecticut state championship for the third year in a row at Wickham Park in Manchester, Connecticut. Coached by Ron and Kathi Peck of Goshen, the cross-country teams are made up of seventy girls and boys from sixth, seventh, and eighth grade at Memorial Middle School.

  “Kathi and I are very proud of the kids again this year,” said Ron Peck. “The boys’ team finished with a 15-1 season and went on to win the state championship. The girls had a very respectable 12-4 season, but didn’t fare as well against other teams in the meet in November. Nevertheless, our runners practiced hard all season and improved their times dramatically.”

  The cross-country season starts during the second week of school and runs until the first Saturday in November. The girls and boys practice together, four afternoons a week which includes one or two meets each week. When the meets are at Memorial Middle School, there are often up to one hundred students and parents cheering on the athletes as they run almost two miles.

  “My wife and I have coached cross-country for over sixteen years and it’s been very rewarding for us,” said Ron Peck.  

  The boys’ team will receive a trophy at the Memorial Middle School awards ceremony and their team picture will be featured on the front of the program next year.

  “The team has a long-standing motto which is ‘Doing your best is more important that being the best,’” added Kathi Peck. “We use this motto as our guiding light and reference it often throughout the season. The team prepared all season for the state meet as it is the longest, toughest, most competitive and exciting event of the season. It is also the only Middle School Championship event of all sports. It was an exciting day for the athletes, as well as the family and friends who were there cheering them on.”