The Guilford girls’ cross country team captured its third-straight Southern Connecticut Conference crown when the Indians finished in first place at the SCC Championship at East Shore Park in New Haven on Oct. 17.

Senior captain Clara Wiesler led the Guilford pack by coming in third place with a time of 20 minutes and 27 seconds for the race. Sophomore Olivia Skapczynski finished in eighth place (21:35), senior Emma Bonz took ninth place (21:36), sophomore Katrina Muhs placed 10th (21:37), and sophomore Julia Antony finished in 14th place (21:56) to help the Indians defend their conference title. Freshman Clara Laughlin took 20th place (22:04), and sophomore Paige Crowley finished in 29th place (22:40) for Head Coach Jim Ford’s club.

“We’re excited about winning the SCCs. We always are, because it’s a team effort,” said Wiesler. “We’re really happy. It gives us the confidence and a boost going into states, where we feel we can finish second and qualify for the Open. That’s our team goal.”

Wiesler was determined to follow her game-plan while running the 5K (3.1 mile) course at the SCC meet. Of course, winning the race would have been nice. However, Wiesler, who came back from a summer injury to pace Guilford to a 9-0 record and the SCC Hammonasset Division title during the regular season, set a goal to at least take third place on a day that featured a wet course and strong winds off the harbor. Wiesler accomplished that goal, her Indians’ teammates followed suit, and Guilford came away with another SCC title by scoring 44 points to beat out runner-up Amity (61 points) for the championship.

“Coach Ford and I agreed that a third and good performances by my fellow runners would be strong enough to win the team title,” Wiesler said.

Wiesler was not only proud of her team for earning the SCC three-peat, she was also pleased that the Indians persevered through the unfavorable weather conditions on the course.

“Going into the SCCs, we desperately wanted to win, especially because it would be for the third time. Our team is very happy for that,” said Wiesler. “We were motivated, too, because we felt we could do well despite the weather conditions.”

Wiesler said that her strategy was to stay close with Amity’s top runners, Arianna Garay and Aviva Wyner, throughout the duration of the race and then turn it on late for a strong finish. Wiesler’s time of 20:27 put her well ahead of both Garay (20:46) and Wyner (20:49), who came in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

“I rode on their shoulders for a good mile or so,” said Wiesler. “As a team, we know how good they are. It was important to get ahead and stay there over those two.”

The Indians will now get ready to compete against a strong field at the Class L State Championship on Saturday, Oct. 26. The race gets underway at 2:10 p.m. at Wickham Park in Manchester. Guilford finished in second place at the Class L meet last season. If the Indians finish in first or second this time around, they will qualify for the State Championship that takes place the following weekend.

“I love to run at Wickham,” Wiesler said. “I know every curve and dip, and I know how to attack the hills. I’ve got my strategy planned already.”