The Bay State Conference Championships lived up to their billing on Saturday at Wrentham, with fast times and strong showings some of the state’s best teams.
Girls Varsity
We talk about the Bay State Conference a lot, and Saturday was testament to why. Four teams that have been in our power rankings all season, and a few more that have been in and out. While this year wasn’t as closely contested as last season, the race still produced 17 sub-20-minute performances.
#5 Newton North took the win with 53 points to #7 Needham’s 67. The Tigers are primed and ready to take on the best of Division 1A in two weeks. #18 Wellesley was able to clip #12 Weymouth for third place by one point, 105-106. Newton North, Needham, and Weymouth will all lock horns again in Division 1A, while Wellesley will look to make a run in Division 1B.
Needham’s Greta Hammer blazed the Wrentham Course in 17:10, giving us a preview of what to expect in a few weeks when she battles Westford Academy’s Abigail Hennessy. Hennessy got the best of the exchange last time, but the Division 1A race should be the first of many, as both runners are capable of moving on to the Regional and National meets if they so choose.
Every position in the top ten was crucial, and Newton North’s Etsy Dudnik fought hard to hold off Framingham’s Daria Lamakina for second place, 18:37 to 18:39. In similar fashion, teammate Maggie Abely was able to hold off Weymouth’s Sonia Souto for fourth, 18:54 to 18:55. Keep an eye on all five of them at Divisionals. Wellesley was led by their dynamic duo of Emma and Madeline Tuxbury. Emma finished in 19:02 with Madeline right behind her in 19:05.
Despite finishing outside the top four, Brookline, Braintree, and Natick will all be competing for slots in the Meet of Champions at Divisionals. Brookline and Braintree may have the more difficult route in D1A. Currently, based off time, Brookline sits at seven and Braintree eight. In D1B, Natick has a great shot to finish in the top five.
Boys Varsity
After a great battle at Twilight, all eyes were on #3 Brookline’s star duo Liam Hartman and Theodore Butty against #8 Natick’s John Bianchi. While it was Hartman that prevailed at Twilight, Bianchi got the win on Saturday in 15:26. Hartman was second in 15:36 with Butty on his heels in 15:37. All three are contenders in their own divisions and should battle it out again at the Meet of Champions. Bianchi and Hartman are the number two and three returners from the Meet of Champions last season. Weymouth’s Patrick Geagan ran a PR to claim fourth in 15:42, beating out #18 Walpole’s Luka Zahurak in 15:44.
Brookline defended their title with a score of 34 point over Natick, who finished with 46. Brookline continues their title defense next week when they line up for the D1A championships. Last season the lost to BC High only to storm back and win at the Meet of Champions. Could Saturday be a repeat? BC High are strong again and joined by Catholic Conference Champs Saint John’s Prep and Lexington. They appear primed and ready to go. They had four runners crack 16 minutes, with Ibrahim Abdel-Dayem and Harry Flint running PRS of 15:48 and 15:52.
The same could be said of Natick as they look to challenge powerhouse Concord-Carlise in D1B. Freddie Van der Velden, Declan Hava, and Calum Doyle, all cracked 16 minutes behind race winner John Binchi.
#16 Wellesley finished in third place and will also look for a spot at the Meet of Champions out of D1B. They were led by Sami Juma who finished eighth in 15:49. After a strong performance yesterday, Weymouth will also look to finish in the top seven in a couple weeks. Their #2 runner Aidan McIntyre ran huge PR of 15:51.
Also watch out for Walpole in Division Two. They’ll be competing at Northfield Mountain in two weeks. Luke Zahurak will be one of the top contenders at Divisionals and Meet of Champions.
