Chris Elsberry, CT Post

Darien defense dominates in beating Warde

FAIRFIELD — For a moment, for a brief moment, Fairfield Warde had a chance to change the momentum of what had been a one-sided affair in favor of Darien and make the Blue Wave sweat a little.

Will Stearns has just caught a touchdown pass to get the Mustangs on the board and one play after the ensuing kickoff, Joe Gjinaj recovered a fumble at the Darien 31, giving Warde the football and the chance to cut the Blue Wave lead in half.

But Darien doesn’t have the best defense in the state for nothing. John Henry Slonieski intercepted quarterback Joey Gublin — one of four Warde turnovers — as the No. 1 ranked Blue Wave used four touchdown passes from Cooper Hancock to roll past the Mustangs 42-7 Friday night at Tetreau-Davis Field.

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Ridgefield’s Viggiano nips Danbury’s Moore at wire at FCIAC Girls XC

NEW CANAAN — It was deja vu all over again.

It just wouldn’t be an FCIAC Girls Cross Country Championship if Danbury High School’s Lauren Moore and Ridgefield’s Gabriella Viggiano weren’t racing neck-and-neck to the finish line.

In 2017, it was Moore who hit the wire one second ahead of Viggiano to capture second place overall behind runaway winner Morgan McCormick of Wilton.

On Thursday, Viggiano turned the tables as her last push at the wire made her the 2018 FCIAC Girls Cross Country Individual Champion over Moore. The margin of victory at New Canaan’s Waveny Park for the 4,000-meter race was microscopic (Viggiano 14:39.07; Moore 14:39.53).

“It was a great race. I really love running at Waveny Park,” Viggiano said. “The final time was a personal best for both Lauren and I by about 20 seconds. After finishing third in 2017, I wanted better this year.”

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Staples captures third straight FCIAC cross country championship, New Cannan’s Malling wins

NEW CANAAN — There is no Wrecking the Wreckers.

The Staples High School boys cross country team put an exclamation point on Hall of Fame coach Laddie Lawrence’s 50th season Thursday by capturing the FCIAC Boys Cross Country team championship at Waveny Park.

Staples High was an impenetrable pack as its top seven runners all finished between fourth and 19th place over the 5,000 meter course that was revamped for safety due to wet conditions from last week’s rains.

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