Warwick Academy have asserted their dominance over the local running scene, securing their second Cross Country Championship in just 24 hours. Following their senior success earlier this week, the school returned to the Arboretum to clinch the Middle School Cross Country title in convincing fashion.
Warwick were crowned overall champions with a total of 165 points, comfortably clear of Saltus Grammar School, who secured second with 197. The Whitney Institute Middle School rounded out the top three with 496 points.
The Warwick success was built on a foundation of elite performances in the girls’ divisions. The school claimed the overall girls’ title with 77 points, followed by Saltus on 108 and Bermuda High School (BHS) on 126.
In the Under-13 Girls race, Colette Durkin provided the highlight of the morning. The Warwick runner dominated from the front, crossing the line in 13:25 to win comfortably. Piper Howard (BHS) and Madeline Friend (Saltus) completed the podium, but Warwick’s depth ensured they took the team division prize with 41 points.
The winning streak continued into the Over-13 Girls category, where Sofia Leclerc clocked 13:44 to secure another gold for Warwick. Despite a strong push from BHS duo Isla Cooze and Avery Taylor, Warwick once again walked away with the team honors for the division.
The boys’ competition proved to be a far tighter affair, resulting in a rare shared title. Both Warwick and Saltus finished tied on 88 points to share the overall boys’ crown, with Whitney finishing third on 217.
Sebastian Owen got Warwick off to a flying start in the Under-13 Boys race, timing his finish perfectly to win in 12:28. He was followed closely by a Saltus trio, with Adrian Myers and Elliot Simons taking silver and bronze respectively.
Warwick’s hopes of a clean sweep of individual golds were dashed in the final race of the day. Nicholas Gomez Caines of Sandys Secondary Middle School delivered a clinical performance in the Over-13 Boys division, cruising to victory in 11:28.
The battle for the remaining spots was the most dramatic of the meet. Saltus’s Spencer Halderman (11:49) managed to pip Warwick’s Dage Butterfield by just one second at the line to secure silver, a result that ultimately ensured the overall boys’ title remained shared.
With two championships in two days, Warwick Academy has set a formidable standard for the rest of the season.
