New Balance Race Report

Wednesday 9/17

Bay State Conference Battles continue

#6 Newton North Girls defeat Braintree, 21-40

The tigers continue to impress as they were able to beat a strong Braintree team by a wide margin. Etsy Dudnik and Maggie Abely got things started by going 1-2 in 19:39 over the 5K course to defeat Braintree’s duo of Chloe Dinh and Anna Flaherty. From there, Newton North displayed why they’re one of the best programs in the state. Their next six runners were able to hold off Braintree’s third by running between 20:09 and 20:37. Emma Koca of Braintree ran 20:37 to get the Wamps back on the board. These are fantastic times to be seeing this far into a dual meet. Braintree’s top five all ran under 22 minutes.

#17 Newton North Boys Defeat Braintree 15-50

Like the girls side, it was another impressive display of depth by the tigers as they were able to get the sweep despite Braintree’s Liam Sweeney running 17:34. Newton North’s Max Badri and Ken Matsuoka were able to hold him off running 17:30. Lucas Allen continues to impress running a PR of 16:49.

#4 Brookline Boys tops #16 Wellesley and Walpole

The Warriors appeared to run methodically to take down Wellesley 24-31, and Walpole 20-35. Walpole’s Luke Zahurak got the overall win in the Tri-Meet in 13:03 over the 2.57 Mile Race. Brookline’s star duo of Liam Hartmann and Theodore Butty took the next two spots to secure their positions ahead of Wellesley’s top runner, Alexander Bonnette. While we were not on sight, it appears as if there was a lot of strategy involved in the racing here to secure points.

Still, it’s a great win for Walpole’s Zahurak. If he wasn’t in your runners to watch list, he should be. The Walpole senior has impressive range from 800m up to 2 Miles on the track.

#9 Wellesley tops Brookline and Walpole

Wellesley defeated Brookline 21-34 and Walpole 18-45 yesterday. Emma and Madeline Tuxbury ran 15:52 and 15:57 to go 1-2 for Wellesley against both teams. Walpole’s Bridget Tierney ran well to take third and narrowly edge Wellesley’s Madeleine Coggins. Brookline had a strong pack finish in order between 16:44 and 17:19. Hannah Petersen, Leena Bhandari-Cordoba, and Georgia Gray were top three for the Warriors.

New Stars shine for NDA

Notre Dame Academy defeated Ursuline Academy 15-50 as it continues to make it’s case as a team to watch out for in November. The big story here was the performances of Claire Sullivan and Claire McManus.

Sullivan, just an eighth grader, ran 18:33 at Bare Cover Park yesterday to win by over 30 seconds. That time currently sits at #4 overall in the state. McManus, just a ninth grader, was second in a PR of 19:10. Her previous best was 20:13 from last season, when she was just an eighth grader. For reference, McManus ran 20:20 at the Vineyard Invitational where she was ninth. Emily Flagg was the overall winner in 18:12.

NDA has their work cut out for them in Division 1C, but if this team continues to improve they could be in the mix for top three. They were fifth last season.

Tuesday 9/16

Middlesex League action occupied Tuesday across the state.

Boys #6 Reading defeats Woburn, 22-38

Reading’s strong pack running was on full display in this matchup. Finn Johnson-Houlihan, Andrew Princic, and Max King finished 2-4, covering the Three Mile course between 16:02-16:06. Senior Dawit Kalubya of Woburn, took the win in 15:45, making his case as one of the league’s best. Teammate Jonathan Harrington was able to break up Reading’s top six, taking fifth in 16:28. Reading’s second pack of Cameron Gigler, Owen Sinclair, and Tim Connolly took places 6-8 to secure the win.

The Woburn Girls flipped the script and defeated Reading 22-32. Sophomore Carla Bosso was first overall for Woburn in 20:21. The Tanners took the first three spots. First for Reading was Bridget Branson in 21:45.

Girls #4 Winchester tops Belmont, 15-50

Winchester continues to roll, as they took the top seven spots against Belmont. Riley Newman took the win over the three mile course in 19:12 and was followed by Julia Ramsey in 19:17. Overall their top seven had a spread from 19:12 to 20:16. Kira Van Kelsted and Reece Bundy were the top two runners for Belmont running 20:19 and 20:56.

The Belmont Boys team made their case to be among the league’s best by defeating Winchester 19-39. They got off to a strong start with Noah Geiger and William Olmstead going 1-2 in 16:07 and 16:12. Noah Damaske was first for Winchester, right on their heels in 16:13. Belmonts third runner, Ishaan Kanagaraj, ran 16:19, giving them a formidable top three. On a 5K course they should all be under 17 minutes.

Girls #1 Lexington tops Arlington, 19-36.

Lexington’s Erin Ehmann blazed the 5K course in 18:51, currently the #4 time in the state. Emma Kosnik, Thayer DiCerbo, and Daphne Warren took the next three spots for Lexington. Arlington put forth a valiant effort taking the next four sports. Chloe Reinelt and Sofia Faust went 1-2 for the Spy Ponders and were followed by Caroline Herr and Vivien Lyman. Keep an eye on Arlington this season. They’ll be competing at Frank Kelly this weekend, which could give us an idea of how they fair against wider competition.

Boys #3 Lexington defeats Arlington, 26-29

Too close for comfort for the #3 Minutemen. It’s worth noting that Patrick Noonan was absent from this race, but still, Arlington should be happy with this performance.

Senior Daichi Collins took the win in 16:09. Lexington’s Rhys Behling, Alden Hall, and Liam Singh took the next three spots. Things became dicey when three runners from Arlington came in next. 800m Speedster Nico Peukert continues to show his range, as he led Owen Merrill and Charles Martin next for the Spy Ponders. In the end Owen Ross and Holden Cassity were able to secure the win, and prevent the upset, by taking the next two spots.

Like the girls, the Arlington Boys are a team to keep an eye on the rest of the season.

Boys #13 Catholic Memorial defends Franklin Park, defeating Sant John’s of Shrewsbury, 20-35.

The Knights trio of Michael Upton, Daniel Kaleba, and Gerard stock went 1-3, finishing together in 17:45-46. Holden Halle and Arnav Chatterjee finished 1^st and 2^nd for Saint John’s in 17:50 and 17:53, solid times on the Franklin Park course.

Boys #7 Saint John’s Prep vs #8 Boston College High School

*Waiting on Results

Girls #5 Needham tops Natick, 24-31

The Bay State Conference continues to show why it’s one of the toughest in the state to race in. Needham needed their top three to shine to hold off Natick. Led by Greta Hammer, Needham took the first three positions. Madison Roach and Eva Scharf were second and third. Natick then took the next four spots. Megan Joyce and Kailie Rader finished together in 20:30 and 20:35. Samantha McMorrow and Margaret Armstrong were able to get in before Needham’s fourth runner. It was a great battle for the next three places as Needham’s Marissa Williams and Maiva King, and Natick’s Erin Wagner, finished four seconds apart. In the end, Needham prevailed, but the Natick girls look stronger and stronger each week.

The #2 Natick Boys team defeated Needham 15-49 as they swept the first six positions. Sam Gustat of Needham was able to break up their top seven running 17:44. Natick will next be in action at the Ocean State Invitational where we’ll get to see them against the Region’s best.

Boys #15 Oliver Ames defeats Foxborough, 23-38

Top Contender Landon Sarney, currently #1 in the state with a 15:26 5K, took another win, covering the 2.5-mile course in 13:19. Foxborough was able to snag the next two spots, with Timothy Chase and Eamonn Kelly, running 13:37 and 13:58. Keep an eye on those two as the season continues as they get a chance to shine at bigger meets.

Oliver Ames Girls defeat Foxborough, 22-37

Foxborough’s Emma Dorich took the win in 16:25, as Oliver Ames exercised solid pack running to earn the win. Devin Thomas, Kathleen Beaulieu, Ashley Powers, and Erin Reilly, all finished together in 17:30-17:31 to take the next four spots.

Both Boys and Girls teams move to 2-0 in the Hockomock League

Stay tuned as more results come in.