DIVISION 2 BOYS
Championships Dates: Nov. 11 – Division State Meet at Wrentham Development Center. Nov. 18 – Meet of Champions at Willard Field, Devens.
Top Teams: Div. 2A – Westwood, Walpole, Blackstone Valley Reg., Masconomet. Div. 2B – Danvers, Wakefield Memorial, Longmeadow, Ludlow. Div. 2C – Dover Sherborn, Groton Dunstable, Medfield, Norton, Whitinsville Christian.
Runners To Watch: Div. 2A – Sean Kerin, Walpole; Isaac Gross, Marblehead; Noah Brilliant, Plymouth South. Div. 2B – Adam Balewicz, Nashoba Regional; Michael Arria, Wakefield; Owen Williams, Wayland; Caleb Barnes, Melrose; Div. 2C – Andrew McConnell, Norton; Kyle Kwiatek, St. Mary’s Lynn; Jack Almeda, Dover Sherborn
Predictions (Team/Individual winners): Div. 2A – Judging by our key runners in this division, the race for individual honors could come down to the last stretch with Kerin, Fisher, Gross and Brilliant all capable of being in that lead group. Kerin was seventh in 1C last year and we’re looking for big improvement from Fisher, who went 9:13 for two miles in outdoor. They might have the best chance to strike it rich. Westwood and Walpole appear to be the strongest team-wise. Div 2B – Balewicz has the target on his singlet in this one. He was the 2A victor in 2022 where he ran a PR of 15:24 at Stanley Park. Arria, Williams and Barnes have potential to finish high, too. It could be a battle royale in the team competition. Danvers, Wakefield and Longmeadow, who are ranked 1-4-5 in the recent MSTCA XC Poll, are the top contenders. Danvers gets the early nod for that top position. Div. 2C – It looks to be wide open for the individual title led by our top pick McConnell, a runner-up last year. Kwiatek, Aradyha and Almeid can’t be ignored, too. Dover Sherborn could be a runaway winner for the team prize. Meet of Champions -Danvers, which has a gap of under a minute for its’ top five, is our favorite here. But don’t count out Wakefield, a team that always performs at its best during championship time. Balewicz, third in this race last year, is our pre-season favorite for the individual crown. In addition to running 15:40 at this meet in 2022, he clocked 15:15 for the 5K distance at the New Balance Nationals in mid March.
