The Loomis Chaffee girls cross country team claimed its fifth consecutive Founders League Championship on Saturday, November 1, at Avon Old Farms.

In a competitive field, the Pelicans placed five runners among the top 15 to earn All-Founders honors and all seven varsity runners among the top 22. Loomis scored 43 points to defend its title, followed by Hotchkiss (62) and Choate (76).

The Pelicans ran with patience and poise on Avon’s hilly course, moving steadily through the pack after the halfway mark. Senior captain Charlotte Preuss led the way, finishing second overall in 19:50 — her fastest time of the season. Senior captain Maleah Cogle (6th, 20:32) and senior Frieda Bilezikian (8th, 20:37) followed closely, with Maleah running a season-best time and Frieda shattering her best-ever 5K time by almost 40 seconds. Sophomore Neve Rugette (13th, 21:23), freshman Tillie Killam (14th, 21:24), senior captain Ani Tzonev (16th, 21:27), and freshman Aza Skinner (22nd, 21:53) rounded out the strong varsity effort.

In the JV race, all seven scoring runners finished in the top 13 of 89 competitors. Junior Morgan Touhy led the group in fourth place (23:12), followed by Ruby Hoffman, Maddie Denaro, Amy Xue, Calla Berkowitz, and Lucy Campion, who placed sixth through 10th. Junior Helen Lu battled through a mid-race injury to finish 13th with a season best.

In all, 24 Pelicans competed in the JV race, with most recording personal bests. The team now turns its focus to the Division I New England Championship meet at Taft on Saturday, November 8.