What sets NXR apart from the former Foot Locker Regional, now Brooks and Fleet Feet XC Championship, is the team competition. Even athletes seeking an individual spot at Nationals can travel and compete alongside their teammates if they choose.
Historically Massachusetts doesn’t get a lot of credit on the national scene despite recent runs of success. As of this writing, the Brookline Boys are the only team ranked in DyeStat’s regional rankings at #4. (Another round will debut tomorrow, that should hopefully include another team from the Bay State)
So, this is a great opportunity for the rest of the Northeast to see what Massachusetts XC is about. After this past weekend’s results, there’s a lot to be excited about. The top two teams qualify for Nationals, and top five individuals not on a qualifying team will get a ticket to Oregon.
Boys Championship Race is at 1:50 PM
Girls Championship Race is at 2:25 PM
Team Outlook
If you haven’t read Coach Miller’s Article on the Lexington-Billerica rivalry compared to the great Newton South and Lincoln-Sudbury teams of 2008, go and read that. In 2008, Newton South and Lincoln-Sudbury finished first and second at NXR. These Lexington and Billerica teams are both that good.
Now does that mean they’re going to finish first and second this weekend? Not necessarily. Times have changed literally and figuratively. Teams are faster. One team in particular is standing in their way.
Defending champs Union Catholic are a juggernaut, and they brought back their entire team from 2024. Topping them will be difficult but not impossible.
Last season Lexington was an admirable sixth overall with a score of 204, and Jane Conrad was 17th overall (13th scorer). They can improve on that. By a lot. Conrad can run up near the front this season. If Lexington doesn’t earn a team spot, she could be in the battle for an individual qualifier spot. However, after what they were able to do this past weekend, Lexington’s top five could all be competing within the top 30 or better, giving them a potential score around 100 pts.
With Billerica having a bigger drop off toward their #5 runner, they would have a harder time earning one of the two coveted team spots. However, there are some caveats to their performance from last week. They were without one of their top runners Hartlie Seigel last week. If she’s able to go this weekend, that changes things dramatically. Also, their fifth runner last week was 2024 Meet of Champions runner up, Gianna McGowan, in her first race of the season. Typically, you can’t expect much to change with fitness at this point in the season. However, given that she just started hers, who knows? Billerica could be the ultimate dark horse this weekend.
Both teams have a great chance at finishing top two and proving they belong with the best in the country.
Also watch out for Newton North. As coach Miller pointed out, most years this team could win a state title. While a top two spot may be out of reach, they are certainly a team that could factor into the top five and represent the best of Massachusetts Cross Country.
Boys
As we mentioned before, the Brookline Boys are the only team from the Bay State in DyeStat’s regional rankings at #4. Last season they were seventh, although in a performance that may not have been up to their standards.
This season they may be even better. Which is crazy to think about considering they only brought back two runners from their top seven last year. But their performance from last weekend doesn’t lie. Their top five ran between 15:53 and 16:23, a phenomenal spread. If they can duplicate that performance, albeit slightly slower over the more challenging course, they could book themselves a ticket to Oregon. Last season Nittany Track and Field and Ridgefield finished second and third behind perennial power Christian Brothers Academy, with scores of 142 and 152. Brookline is more than capable of that.
In 2007, Brookline won this race with a score of 86, just one point ahead of Danbury, CT. This team matches up well with them.
Here are their times and position:
1st Robert Gibson 16:00, 3rd David Wilson 16:16, 10th Michael Burnstein 16:30, 18, Elliot Lehane 16:42, 54 Brendan Grove 17:34, (63 Chris Mercurio 17:44, 103 Ryan Hardiman 18:16)
The 2025 Brookline Team could put up a similar performance.
Don’t count out Natick either. Only 20 points behind Brookline last week, they could be in the mix. They’ll benefit from top runner John Bianchi fighting for one of the top individual spots.
Also watch out for Concord-Carlisle. While they may not have had the performance they wanted at the Meet of Champions, they were one of the best teams all season. This is a great chance for them to end on a high note.
Individual Outlook
Both Bianchi and Conrad will be looking to lead their teams to the promise land but are both capable of earning individual spots as well.
However, the main story will be Needham Senior Greta Hammer. While nothing is given in this sport, after finishing runner up last year plus the season she’s had, she’s a safe bet to earn another qualifying spot.
Last year she was runner up in 18:22. Defending champ Paige Sheppard has been running well, but don’t count out Hammer. Keep in mind she’s gone toe-to-toe with instate rival Abby Hennessy this season and never backed down. Sub 18 is rare air on Bowdoin Park, but she can come close with the right conditions. However, her focus may be on punching her return ticket and running her best at nationals. Hammer is an honorable mention in DyeStat’s national rankings, so this is a great opportunity to show she is one of the nation’s best.
Canton’s Lauren Raffetto and Northampton’s Mairead O’Neil will toe the line this weekend after finishing fifth and sixth in the D2 race last weekend. Both of them are capable of finishing near the top 10. As we mentioned in the team section, don’t overlook Newton North. Esty Dudnik will be leading her team to a top position, but she should also be in the mix for top ten as well.
Also watch out for Amelia Desilets. The Monument Mountain senior was absent at states this year but holds a sub 18 performance from Twilight.
In the Boys race we may get another dual from the Meet of Champions. Your 2025 Meet of Champions winner, Oliver Ame’s Landon Sarney, will be running. After his breathtaking win last weekend, he should be running with a lot of confidence. If he’s near the front at the end, good luck to everyone else. After finishing runner up, Bianchi will be looking to prove he’s the best out of the Bay State. Hopefully the rivalry can propel both to qualifying spots.
Lexington’s Patrick Noonan will be the lone Minutemen in the Championship Race. He made a big move around the two mile mark last week to take the lead, so we know he’s confidant in his fitness. Noonan is another runner that could turn some heads this weekend with a top ten finish.
Also toeing the line in the Championship Races:
Boys
Amherst Pelham Regional
Hopedale
Nathan Palmieri, Pembroke
Cassidy McBee, Triton
Patrick Geagan, Weymouth
Stephen Green, Algonquin
Girls
Amherst Pelham Regional
Canton
Needham
Editor’s Note: If we missed anyone from the entries in the Championship Race, let us know in the comments. With teams running under different names, and athletes competing unattached it can be difficult to spot everyone.
