Cozumel, Mexico — Norwich’s Jeff Reed claimed 12th place in his age group, missing a top-10 finish by mere seconds, at the International Triathlon Union Grand Final last Thursday in Mexico.

Representing the United Staes, Reed, 61, raced in the men’s ages 60-64 sprint division and recorded a final time of 1 hour, 12 minutes, 11 seconds. Fellow American Brad Vaughn grabbed the last top-10 slot in the division in 1:11:59.

Still, Reed’s final result marked a significant improvement on his race at last year’s ITU Grand Final in Chicago. Reed ran a time of 1:17:18 at last year’s championship to take 15th place in his age group.

The race also wrapped up the competitive season for the elite men and women, with South Africa’s Henri Schoeman and Bermuda’s Flora Duffy claiming victories. Hanover’s Sarah True, who competed in the Rio Olympics in August, races to a seventh-place finish among the elite women.

In a Scrum Wolfpack 32Mountain Men 25

Keene, n.h. — After a pair of easy victories to open their inaugural New England Rugby Football Union Division IV campaign, the Upper Valley Mountain Men couldn’t overturn an early deficit in a 32-25 loss to the Monadnock Wolfpack, last season’s divisional champion.

The Wolfpack used aggressive rucking and a ball-control offense to build a 21-6 halftime lead before Upper Valley (2-1) worked its way back into the match. The Mountain Men had a chance to take the lead late in the contest before a late try secured the win for Monadnock.

Josh Henderson, Davis Pack and Vince O’Shea contributed second-half tries for Upper Valley. Emeric David delivered two penalties and two conversions for 10 points. Matt Kier showed strength at fly half, and Tim Puzio’s tackling and running also helped the Mountain Men get back in the match.

Upper Valley is on the road again on Saturday, visiting Boston Ironsides RFC (0-3).

On the Pitch LSC Sparks Win

Meriden — The Lightning Soccer Club’s U12 Sparks girls added a first home win to an opening victory on the road last weekend, taking a 1-0 decision from Seacoast United Benfica USA White at Kimball Union Academy.

The sides stayed scoreless through the first half, with goalie Mo McBride making a handful of diving saves to keep LSC level. Emma Powers finally delivered the goal that secured the victory for the Sparks, converting a pass from Brielle Fitzpatrick.

LSC Bugs Draw Three

Epping, n.h. — The Lightning Soccer Club’s U11 Bugs girls spent the weekend in southern New Hampshire, gaining two 1-1 draws and a 2-2 tie in three matches with Seacoast United.

Svia Russman-Aray and Elanor Edson backstopped the results with their combined play in the Bugs’ goal all weekend long. Russman-Araya also came out of the net to join Annabelle Clark and Kaelin Fitzpatrick in the goal-scoring department.

Fitzpatrick’s two strikes included the game-tying penalty kick that produced the third-game draw. Russman-Araya and Clark both had one goal on the weekend.

Flames Fall

Charlestown, Mass. — A physical Valeo FC side delivered a 6-2 defeat to the LSC 2006 Flames on Boston’s east side over the weekend.

Landon Kingsbury scored on a cross from Noah Winchester eight minutes into the match, and Logan Isham converted Beckett Sobel’s pass in the final four minutes for LSC’s other goal. Isham (seven saves) and Norwood Davis (six saves) split time in the net.

The Flames also received strong play from Christian Blix, David Frechette, Adam Goodney and Cavan O’Brien.

Fire Scorches Aztecs

Revere, Mass. — The LSC U13 Fire had little trouble in their New England Premiership match on Sunday with Aztec Soccer, flying to a 12-0 win.

Ritchie Aman scored the first of his four goals in the opening three minutes, and it was all Fire after that. Murphy Hunt, Hugh Clark, Jack Maynes, Zane Schiffman, Seth Carl, Ty Nolon, Palmer Okai and Jack Ross all dented the net for the Fire.

Nolon and Maynes split the shutout. LSC hosts NFC New England at Kimball Union Academy on Sunday afternoon.

U14 Cosmos Stopped

Meriden — Despite three saves on breakaways from goalkeeper Ian O’Brien, the LSC U14 Cosmos boys dropped a 4-1 result to GPS N.H. Select over on Sunday.

Select scored all of their goals after halftime, which remained scoreless despite the Cosmos’ loss of O’Brien to a head injury on the last of his breakaway stops. Jackson Martsolf-Tan converted a pass from Tanner Bessette as LSC equalized a Select goal early in the second half, but GPS pulled away from there.

U14 Blast 2-0-0

Meriden — William Ermarth had a goal and an assist as the LSC U14 Blast boys won their second match in as many starts, getting a 3-0 win over the Seacoast United Admirals on Sunday at KUA’s Pope Field.

Ermarth scored his goal on a pass from Camden Dwyer, then later produced the assist on a Jacob Kubik-Pauw score. Benjamin Seiler added an unassisted strike, and goalkeeper Max Ritter recorded his second shutout of the young campaign.

Defenders Tucker Monson, Dylan Kotlowitz, Alexander Stevens and Silas Nowlan had key roles in that clean sheet, as well as the 6-0 blanking of GPS N.H. 2003 Elite the week before. Ermarth and Tyler St. Martin scored twice each in theat win, with Simon Amaro and Emmet Mahoney added goals as well.

On the Run Rivendell Ramble Coming

Orford — Runners and hikers are invited to join the 12th edition of the Rivendell Ramble on Sept. 24 on the Cross Rivendell Trail.

The event operates on donations to the Rivendell Trail Association. The suggested fee is $15 for adults to participate in either a 5K or 10K trail run or 3.6-mile hike planned for the day. The event begins and ends at Rivendell Academy, with shuttle bus service to the race and hike starting locations. A free lunch from area restaurants is also provided to all participants.

Visit the CRT’s Facebook page for more information.

Lucy Mac 5K Moving

Brownsville — The Lucy Mac 5K-9 run and walk will take place on Oct. 2 at the Ascutney Trails facility on Mount Ascutney in Brownsville.

A fundraiser for the Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society, the event will take place on trails laid out on Ascutney’s western base. Trail shoes are recommended for anyone participating, as parts of the course will run over rocks, wood, dirt and grass. The 5K trail run is open to all; a one-mile fun run or walk is also planned, and a special kids mini-course will be set up with a series of dog agility-inspired obstacles.

Participants are also welcome to join with or without dogs.

Lucy Mac has set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for the upcoming event. To learn more, visit www.lucymac.org or contact Jackie Stanley at jstanley@lucymac.org or 802-484-5827.

Foliage Five Oct. 2

Thetford — Recreational runners are invited for a morning run in peak Vermont foliage when the annual Foliage Five road race takes place at the Union Village Dam on Oct. 2.

The five-mile course will be contested primarily on dirt roads, with a 2 p.m. start. The cost of the race is $10 before Sept. 28 (online registration via RaceWire) and $15 from then to the day of the race. Children and adults not tackling the full route are welcome to take part in a short fun run at 1:30 p.m., just before the main event.

Modest rewards will go to overall male and female winners as well as the top three finishers in each age category. A raffle is also planned.

Visit recreation.lebnh.net for the online link for registration, or contact Lebanon Recreation and Parks’ Paul Coats at 603-448-5121 or paul.coats@lebcity.com.

On a Hike Wednesday WalkersBack on Track

White River Junction — The Hartford Parks and Recreation Department’s Wednesday Walkers hiking series is in the midst of another autumn of recreational trips around the Upper Valley.

The series involves hikes along some of the region’s scenic backwoods trails. Each hike is open to all ages and experience levels; group s meet first at Hartford Town Hall at 9 a.m. for transportation to that day’s trail head.

The fall and winter schedule:

Sept. 28: Cossingham Road Farm Trail, Norwich.

Oct. 12: Hurricane Forest Wildlife Refuge, White River Junction.

Oct. 26: Holts Ledge, Lyme.

Jan. 25: Mill Road Trail, Lebanon.

Feb. 8: Storrs Pond Ring Trail, Hanover.

March 1: Mink Brook Marsh, Hanover.

Participants are advised to wear appropriate clothing, including footwear suitable for fall or winter hiking, along with water and a snack. All hikes should end by noon and are free of charge.

Events are weather-dependend, so call Hartford Parks and Rec at 802-295-5036 to confirm or to reserve a spot on a hike.

On Four Wheels Skatepark Reopening

West Lebanon — The Lebanon Recreation and Parks Department will officially reopen the Rusty Berrings Skatepark on Glen Road with a three-hour celebration on Saturday.

The park will be dedicated to the memory of Norwich’s Tyler Kirschner as part of the celebration. Skateboarders and BMX bikes will get their first crack at the new park, which has been undergoing an update this summer with the installation of concrete ramps and jumps. Music and free pizza are also in the works.

The celebration goes from 2-5 p.m. at the park. Contact Lebanon Rec at 603-448-5121 for more details.