When top high school runners transition to the NCAA, it can be quite shocking at first. When you’re used to winning races or at least challenging up at the front, getting thrown into the NCAA where there’s olympic athletes can be daunting.
However, fans of cross country in the Bay State were treated to a familiar site this afternoon. If you followed the sport from 2020-22, you would have become familiar with Framingham’s Sam Burgess winning races and battling with other notable Bay State athletes like Paul Bergeron of Westford Academy and Nathan Lopez of Saint John’s Prep.
Burgess won the prestigious gold race today at the Paul Short Run in 23:18 for 8K, a one second PR over last season, but the win marks his first major victory in the NCAA. Last season he was 15th at regionals and was part of Harvard’s team that ran at Nationals. From his time at Framingham, Burgess holds the course record at Wrentham, with an insane 14:38. He went on to break nine minutes for the two mile multiple times. At Harvard he holds PRs of 13:54 and 28:46. Harvard was fourth overall as a team, as they got crucial help from another familiar face.
Former Andover Phillips Academy great Tamrat Gavenas was third overall in 23:20, a phenomenal performance for a freshmen. With Gavenas making a seamless leap to the 8K distance, Harvard looks formidable once again this season.
Notable Men’s 8K Runners
Villanova Sophomore and Catholic Memorial Alum, CJ Sullivan ran 23:30
Boston University Junior and Nashoba Alum, Freddy Collins ran 24:09
Umass Lowell Freshmen and Greater Lowell Tech Alum, Devin Moreau ran 24:17
Umass Lowell Freshmen and Danvers Alum, William Conklin ran 24:38
Penn Freshmen, and BC High Alum, Shamus Larnard ran 24:49
Stony Brook Junior and Falmouth Alum, Henry Gartner ran 24:14
Pitt Freshmen and Marshfield Alum, Graham Heinrich ran 24:52
Umass Lowell and Lowell Alum, Jack Coutney ran 25:47
Womens 6K
Umass Lowell Sophomore and Groton-Dunstable Georgia Brooks alum, ran 21:46
Umass Lowell Freshmen and Gardner Alum, Krista Bettez ran 22:51
Cornell Sophomore and Brookline alum, Lucia Werner ran 21:52.
Boston University Sophomore and Nashoba alum, Caroline Collins ran 21:32
Boston University Junior and Andover Alum, Molly Kiley ran 21:35
Umass Amherst Sophomore and Billerica Alum, Anna McElhinney ran 21:54.
Umass Amherst Junior and Holliston Alum, Ela Bosselman ran 21:45
Penn Freshmen and Cambridge Rindge and & Latin Alum, Aoife Shoflin ran 21:48
*Stay tuned for more coverage
6 Responses
Anna McElhinney is from Billerica, not Bishop Feehan
There was no name listed for “Umass Lowell Sophomore and Hamilton-Wenham alum, ran 21:46” but I assume you meant Georgia Brooks, who is from Groton-Dunstable
Some other runners in the gold races from MA high schools not mentioned:
Womens:
Sarah Ross (Agawam), Miana Caraballo (Methuen), Lauren Long (Lunenburg), Gracie Richard (Weymouth), Aisling Callahan (North Andover), Sammy Seabury (Wakefield), Ella Bosselman (Holliston), Abigail Beville (Covenant Christian), Charlotte Whitehurst (Phillips Andover), Lily Jin (Wellesley), Caitlyn Chang (Braintree)
Mens:
Freddy Collins (Nashoba), Devin Moreau (Greater Lowell), Kofi Fordjour (Roxbury Latin), William Conklin (Danvers), Jack Courtney (Lowell)
Thanks, I was a little too hasty in getting this up
And Aoife Shovlin (21:48).
with 500 runners in each race it’s not easy…
Yes, a lot harder than covering high school. I want to cover college as well, because as a fan there doesn’t seem to be a ton of coverage out there, but now I’m beginning to see why. I may stick to regional races like New Englands, NCAA regionals, etc. I appreciate your help!
Ethan Sholk (Lincoln Sudbury) 24:59
Max Hoffman (Wellesley) 25:31
Jacob Tobin (Natick) 25:33
Aidan Dupill (Oliver Ames) 25:38
Ben Kasen (Brookline) 25:43
Izzy Galusha 22:32 Stonehill
Marianna Collins 22:38 Merrimack
Gracie Richard 22:40 UML