WOODBURY — The NHS Cross Country team hosted their first invitational on Sept. 30. With 3 teams in total, NHS, Shepaug, and Northwestern, the Chiefs fought hard despite a minor injury to the boys team top 2nd runner.

Debrah Flaherty, head coach for the teams, knew that even though the team didn’t claim the win they still worked their hardest and had a great meet.

“It was our first home meet of the season so a couple things one it was nice to run on the same course we did last year and in the 6 years ive been here the course had to change sometimes for a variety of reasons so that was a plus,” said Flaherty. “We didn’t get the outcome that we wanted from the boys team or the girls but it was still exciting and competitive and win, lose or draw I would much rather have a meet where you have tough competition and have to work better.”

Ethan Butkus, a junior runner for the boys team, was happy the team could pull through and do well despite the injury of runner Lucas Forcucci.

“It was good overall but we lost our number 2 player by getting hurt and that just took away our chances of beating Shepaug and winning the championship,” said Butkus. “But overall the runners are running pretty good and even with our number 2 runner out we still placed right where we wanted and have been consistent all year and just did the best we could.”

With a new injury added to the team the chances of winning the meet become close to zero, Flaherty was aware but had no doubt either way her runners did their best.

“That was a bummer so on the boys side Shepaug has been putting up points honestly where they should have beaten us 10-15 points easily, That’s how it was looking so when the boys stepped up they went hard,” said Flaherty. “My number 2 came up with a hamstring injury and so that really took away our chances of beating them.”