The Ocean State Invitational may be held in Rhode Island, but when it comes to the featured boys’ Championship race, the spotlight has belonged to neighboring Massachusetts.
The Bay State was dominant at last year’s meet, claiming nine of the top 10 spots. Based on the schools entered in this weekend’s competition, it looks like more of the same could be in store.
With some of our top local teams still not at full strength — in other words, not yet showing their full potential in the few meets they’ve run so far — we factored last year’s results into the equation as well when analyzing the data and predicting which squads are most likely to battle for team supremacy this weekend.
The conclusion was clear. Roughly 18 minutes after the gun fires for the Championship race 12:15 p.m.), the outcome is shaping up to be a take-your-pick contest among at least four Massachusetts squads, all of which sit in the top six of our BSR Power Rankings. That group includes Natick, Lexington, St. John’s Prep, and Newton South, ranked Nos. 2, 3, 6, and 7, respectively.
Natick is led by John Bianchi, one of the top contenders for individual honors. The Red Raiders had four runners dip under 16:05 at last year’s race — Bianchi, Callum Doyle (15:55.6), Fredie van der Velden (16:02.0), and Declan Hava (16:05.5). The key to Natick’s success this fall will be how close their No. 5 can stay to the pack; last season, that gap was about 30–40 seconds.
Lexington brings one of the tightest packs in the field. Last season, the gap between its first and fifth runner was just 34.56 seconds. Early this fall, that differential has shrunk to only 24 seconds. The Minutemen’s lineup features Trevor Stevens, Patrick Noonan, Aiden Hall, Owen Ross, Finn O’Donnell, and Sam Finch — all of whom ran 16:34 or faster in 2024. Stevens, who has yet to compete this season, owns a 15:57 best on his home course last fall.
Newton South will be in the mix behind the trio of Gavin MacDonald, Nolan Harris, and Dashiel Martin, all of whom clocked between 15:48 and 16:01 last year.
St. John’s Prep also has the firepower to contend but will need strong performances from the back end of its lineup. Liam Mahoney and Leopold Seltenrich, who have posted times in the high-15 to low-16 range, lead the way for the Eagles.
