The entries are closed for weekend’s Frank Kelley Invitational. While we won’t know what races that runners will be competing in until Saturday’s meet, we do know some of the top talent that will be toeing the line at the Wrentham Developmental Center.
Here we list a 13 harriers that could make an impact.
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Aoife Shovlin, Cambridge Rindge & Latin – Could we see a sub-18 on Saturday? With Shovlin in the field, it’s certainly possible. The defending Div. 1 champion was second in this race in 2022 where she was timed in 18:22.5. She was fifth in a stacked race at the Div. 1A meet at Wrentham with an all-time best of 17:58.4.
Lauryn Augustyn, Bishop Feehan – The Shamrocks’ junior is one the top returners from last year’s Championship race where she was 14th overall with a time of 19 minutes, 23.1 seconds. She was second two weeks ago at the Highland Park Invitational where she was timed in 19:52 on her home course.
Lucia Werner, Brookline – Werner clocked 19:10 in this race last year where she took eighth overall to help lead the Warriors to the team title. She improved on her performance at Wrentham by clocking 18:49.7 at the Division 1A Championships, a time she would match at the Meet of Champions (MOC). This will be Werner’s first major meet of the season. After three meets this fall, she is undefeated in league competition with a best of 18:40 in a meet versus Needham at Cutler Park.
Maggie Kuchman, Holliston -The Panthers will be without their No. 1 runner, Carmen Luisi, who competed last weekend at the Ocean State Invitational. Nonetheless, Holliston will still have a strong presence with Kuchman answering the gun. She did not compete at the Kelley Invite in 2022, but did go sub-19 at Wrentham by taking runner-up honors to Luisi at the Frank Mooney Invitational where she was timed in 18:53.4.
Marri O’Connell, Marblehead – The gifted sophomore is coming off an outstanding performanace at the recent Ocean State Invitational where she was tenth in the Championship race with a PR of 18:28.6. She was second in the Div. 1C Championships last fall, clocking 18:35.13 at Wrentham.
Alexa Schroeder, Martha’s Vineyard – This will be the first meet of the season for Schroeder, who was the Vineyarders’ top harrier last year. In 2022, the now senior raced to a 5K best of 18:46.2 at the Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational. She was eighth at the Div. 2C meet last year.
Madelyn Germain, Norfolk County Aggie – Germain was the Div. 3A winner last year and was second at the MOC. She ran a best of 18:57.6 at Wrentham, an effort that place her third overall at the Frank Mooney Coaches Invitational.
Luna Prochazkova North Andover – Prochazkova was sixth in this race last year where she crossed the line in 19:00.3. She ran a PR of 18:41.88 at the Div. 1B Championships, placing seventh overall on Wrentham’s 5K course
Kaylie Dalgar Pentucket – Dalgar ran a 5K best of 18:24.6 to take second overall in the Small School varsity race at last year’s Twilight Invitational. She was fourth in the Div. 2B meet at Stanley Park in 2022 with a time of 18:59.4 on the challenging terrain.
Abby Kelly Newburyport – The Clipper senior ran a best of 19:03.4 at Wrentham last year to place second at the Cape Ann League Championships. She was 11th overall at the Div. 2B meet.
Gracie Richard, Weymouth – The Wildcat junior twice dipped under 19 minutes at Wrentham last year, clocking a best of 18:48.9 at a league meet and 18:53.4 at the Div. 1A Championships, where she was 11th against a loaded field. Richard has already competed in a number of race this fall with a season best of 18:51 in a league meet on Sept. 13.
Abby and Emily Flagg, Whitinsville Christian – The twin sisters could be double trouble on Saturday. Abby, who won the Div. 2 title last year as an eighth-grader, was second a few weeks ago at the Vineyard XC Invitational with a time of 19:19.6. Emily is coming off a victory in the Varsity 1 race at last weekend’s Ocean State Invitational with a huge PR of 19:07.40.
