Over the last few weeks, we previewed our top 20 girls’ and boys’ teams this cross-country season. Now it’s on to the individuals.
Just who are our top harriers this fall? Leading up to our first statewide competitions of the fall campaign on Sept. 12, we’re going to feature some of the runners we believe will make an impact on the up-and-down terrain.
Among some of the stars coming back this season are Whitinsville Christian’s Emily Flagg, who will be aiming for her third straight Division 2C title and second consecutive Div. 2 crown at the Meet of Champions.
There’s also Div. 2B winner, freshman Lucy Downin of Holliston. The Panthers’ gifted underclassman followed up her sensational season on the trails with an even better year on the track, one that was highlighted by a 4:51.18 best for the mile at the New Balance Nationals last spring.
On the boys’ side, we’ll see all new faces at the top of the podium in both the divisional states and Meet of Champions. Who will capture individual gold from our latest batch of returnees at the state’s season-ending competitions? It’s anyone’s guess.
A lot of questions will be asked between now and November. By championship time, we’ll have plenty of answers.
For now, were going to feature what we believe are the best of the best.
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Spotlight On Talent: Jane Conrad: Lexington High
Gone are the last two Division 1A and Division I state champions with the graduation of Needham’s Greta Hammer (2025) and Westford Academy’s Abby Hammer, last year’s winner in both races.
That means a new face, or faces, will occupy the No. 1 spot on the podium. When talking about deserving contenders for individual honors, you have to count the Lexington junior among them.
Conrad has been the top underclassman the last two years in championship competition, which included third-place finishes in the Div. 1A and Div. 1 meets, the latter producing a solid 18:06.4 clocking at Fort Devens, site of the Meet of Champions.
All signs have the Minutemen’s outstanding runner contending with the lead pack. Conrad followed her second year on the trails in 2025-26 with strong indoor and outdoor track seasons. She was the Division 1 two-mile indoor champion during a winter campaign that also featured a best of 17:28.75 for 5K at the New Balance Nationals. On the outdoor oval, Conrad went sub-five minutes for the mile at the Glenn B. Loucks Games in New York and clocked a PR of 10:38.76 for two miles at NBN.
The reigning Middlesex League champion is once again the low stick on the top-ranked Minutemen this cross-country season. Will her bronze medals turn gold by season’s end? Judging by her progression and consistency over the last two years, there are legitimate reasons to believe it’s possible.
