Xavier overcomes runner DQ to win first State Open title since 2018; LaBelle takes individual crown
LaBelle wins the CIAC State Open boys cross country individual championship, and Xavier takes the team title.
On Thursday, November 5, 2026, Xavier's cross country team secured its first CIAC State Open championship since 2018 at Wickham Park in Manchester, Connecticut. Junior Jackson Gould set the pace from the start but faced an unexpected challenge when his teammate, junior Quentin Koch, was disqualified after finishing second overall. Coach Chris Stonier appealed the disqualification, but the jury of appeals upheld the decision, which left Xavier's team in a delicate situation.
Despite the setback, Xavier still managed to win the team title, with overall runner-up Holden Hines taking fourth place overall. Senior James Perrault and junior Alex Brown rounded out the top five for Xavier, while Griswold's senior LaBelle claimed the individual State Open championship with a time of 15:37.6.
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