Two different competitions, two different states and more than 100 miles between them will host several of our Massachusetts schools on Saturday.
Right here in the Bay State is the annual Amherst Invitational. Held at UMass-Amherst, this weekend’s meet will feature 15 schools, including two from neighboring New Hampshire. Among the top teams toeing the starting line is defending girls’ champion Concord-Carlisle and 2025 individual titlist Maria Chopas. The Patriots rank No. 4 in our recent New Balance Power Rankings. Hingham, at No. 15, and Amherst-Pelham, at No. 17, are also entered.
Concord-Carlisle is also the state’s top entry in the boys’ race. As in the girls’ race, the Patriots occupy the No. 4 spot in the rankings. They’ll face three other ranked squads, including East Longmeadow (No. 14), North Andover (No. 15) and Amherst-Pelham (No. 18). Sullivan Sturtz of Keene (NH), who won his second straight title last year, has since graduated and attends UMass-Amherst, leaving the door open for a new champion.
SCHEDULE
10 a.m. – Freshmen Boys
10:40 – Freshmen Girls
11:20 – Varsity Boys
12 p.m. – Varsity Girls
12:40 – Junior Varsity Boys
1:20 – Junior Varsity Girls
2:15 – Awards Ceremony
Also this weekend is the immensely popular Manchester Invitational. This is a meet that always attracts elite competition from throughout New England, and it should be no different on Saturday. Massachusetts schools venturing up north to take on one of the more challenging 5K courses in the region at Derryfield Park are Brockton, Needham, Phillips Academy Andover, Lexington and Framingham.
This will be the first real test for the Lexington girls, who are ranked No. 1 in the power rankings. It will also be a good tune-up for the Minutemen, who are among the top teams in the featured Championship race at next weekend’s Ocean State Invitational. Needham, ranked No. 6 in the power rankings, will also be testing its mettle at Manchester. Lexington is also the top entry on the boys’ side, bringing its No. 3 state ranking to the starting line.
SCHEDULE
9 a.m. – Girls’ Freshmen Race
9:30 – Boys’ Freshmen Race
10:00 – Girls’ Junior Varsity C Race
10:30 – Boys’ Junior Varsity C Race
11:00 – Girls’ Junior Varsity B Race
11:40 – Boys’ Junior Varsity B Race
12:10 p.m. – Girls’ Varsity Small School Race
12:50 – Boys’ Varsity Small School Race
1:20 – Girls’ Varsity Large School Race
2:00- Boys’ Varsity Large School Race
