For both the girls and boys cross country teams at Loomis Chaffee, this fall brings a mix of familiar expectations and new opportunities. With talented runners returning and promising newcomers joining the program, both teams are looking to build on their traditions of success while growing throughout the season. 

The boys enter the fall after winning the Founders League championship and finishing third at the New England Division I Prep School meet last year. After graduating two of the strongest runners in program history, however, this year’s team will look different. With just three seniors among 24 runners, head coach Andrew Bartlett sees an opportunity for younger athletes to take on greater responsibility.  

The boys’ team has an opportunity to capture its third consecutive Founders League championship, and Bartlett believes the combination of returning veterans and newcomers gives the Pelicans a strong group with which to compete. 

“I would describe our team as young, but not naive,” Coach Bartlett said. “They are loose and confident simultaneously. They tend to remain composed while also having a lot of fun with each other.”  

That balance of competition and connection already has begun to take shape away from the course. From a team mini-golf tournament to pool workouts and team meals, the boys have found ways to build relationships early in the season, which is something Coach Bartlett believes will become increasingly important as teammates push one another throughout the fall.  

The girls are experiencing a similar transition. Head coach Becky Purdy is excited to see a new group of leaders emerge after graduation opened opportunities for returning runners to step forward. The team also welcomes several promising newcomers, including freshmen with previous cross country experience. While the faces may change, Coach Purdy sees many of the qualities that have long characterized Loomis girls’ cross country. 

“This team is known through the years for being gritty, building camaraderie, and exceeding expectations,” Purdy said. This year’s group already has demonstrated that commitment, with many runners putting in significant mileage over the summer in preparation for the season.  

For Purdy, camaraderie is particularly important in a sport that can appear individual from the outside. Although runners may not always be running next to one another during a race, she believes the connection between teammates can push athletes beyond what they thought they could accomplish individually. 

“The magic that happens when you run as a team in cross country. It is powerful, and it makes a good team great,” Purdy said. “When you run as a team, you feel connected to your teammates even if you’re not side by side.”  

The runners themselves are already feeling that connection. Senior Eleanor Cavenagh said she is particularly excited for meets, where “you always feel your work paying off, and the team bond,” while senior Morgan Touhy hopes to provide the same energy and leadership she experienced from the seniors who came before her.  

On the boys’ side, senior Dylan Torizzo is excited about the potential of the team’s younger runners. Freshman Kuba Rokicki has provided a glimpse of that potential by setting a course record on the 1.5-mile course at the Wilton Invitational on Saturday, September 19.  

Fans will have a limited number of opportunities to see the Pelicans race at home this fall, making those meets particularly special. Torizzo highlighted the October 10 home opener as one the team is especially anticipating, with Founders League competition coming to a course the Pelicans know well. The boys team has a second home meet on October 23. 

With young runners ready to emerge and teammates pushing one another to get better at each practice, both Loomis cross country programs enter the fall eager to see just how far they can go together.