THETFORD, Vt. - Last fall the Thetford Academy boys finished second at the state championships on their own course. On Saturday they took the title there, winning the team championship in their division for the first time since 2018.
Sophomore Peter Horan led the way, finishing second in 17:13.7, behind only Stowe’s Nico Delena, the individual champion. A year ago Horan was 12th in this race.
The Panthers’ depth did the rest. Sophomore Zac Amber, 15th last year, was fifth in 18:01.6, and senior Ollie Emery, sixth last year, was seventh in 18:14.2. Senior Kai Slayton was 11th in 18:55.8, and sophomores Zac Adams (19th, 19:33.9) and Micah Mahood (20th, 19:34.2) crossed the line three-tenths of a second apart. Senior Jesse Martin was 38th.
Co-coach Joe Deffner, who leads the program with Emily Silver, laid out the challenge before the season. “To be successful as a team, they will need to strive individually to challenge the runners ahead of them and never accept that their position is a fixed number,” Deffner said.
With Horan, Amber, Adams and Mahood all sophomores, much of this championship group can return next fall.
The Thetford girls raced too. Senior Lola Squire led them in 20th in 23:47.9, and sophomore Meredith Sloop was right behind in 24th in 24:10.3.
Junior Madeline Piecuch was 39th, and juniors Riley Punchar (57th), Veena Wang (59th) and Ember Colby (62nd) and sophomore Mercedes Schwarz (68th) completed the varsity group. Rice won the girls team title in the Panthers’ division, just edging Stowe. Last fall the Thetford girls placed fourth.
Thetford also ran deep in the open races. Freshmen Blake Farley and Brennan Punchar were 35th and 42nd in the boys challenge race, and junior Mary Crockett and sophomore Lacey Judd ran in the girls challenge race.
Thetford boys: 2. Peter Horan 17:13.7; 5. Zac Amber 18:01.6; 7. Ollie Emery 18:14.2; 11. Kai Slayton 18:55.8; 19. Zac Adams 19:33.9; 20. Micah Mahood 19:34.2; 38. Jesse Martin 20:49.1.
Thetford girls: 20. Lola Squire 23:47.9; 24. Meredith Sloop 24:10.3; 39. Madeline Piecuch 26:22.0; 57. Riley Punchar 29:15.1; 59. Veena Wang 30:11.2; 62. Ember Colby 30:27.0; 68. Mercedes Schwarz 31:09.6.
That wraps up the day for Thetford Academy sports. We’ll see you next time!