With the MIAA Meet of Champions (MOC) and Nike Cross Northeast Regionals (NXR-NE) scheduled for the same day, the timing couldn’t be worse for teams like Lexington. Coming into the cross-country season, the Minutemen were eyeing a defense of last year’s Division 1 girls’ title at the MOC on Nov. 21. But Lexington’s talented squad also has the potential to secure one of two qualifying spots at NXR for Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) in early December.
So which meet will the Minutemen choose?
While the decision hasn’t been officially confirmed, longtime head coach Rebecca Trachsel indicated that the team’s priority is clear.
“Our goal this season was NXR and the Nationals,” Trachsel said. “Unfortunately, it conflicts with the Meet of Champions, so we may have to skip that meet.”
In preparation for a potential trip to Oregon for NXN on Dec. 5, Lexington already earned a significant victory at last month’s Manchester (N.H.) Invitational. This weekend, the Minutemen face one of their most significant tests of the fall as they head to Virginia for the VA XC Showcase.
Lexington and fellow Massachusetts squad Billerica Memorial, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state, respectively, will take on some of the nation’s top programs in Saturday’s featured race.
Currently ranked No. 22 nationally, Lexington will face three other teams ranked in the national top 25, including No. 1 Union Catholic (N.J.). Penn Charter (Pa.), ranked No. 10, and Marvin Ridge (N.C.), ranked No. 16, are also scheduled to compete.
For Trachsel and her squad, choosing the VA XC Showcase was an easy decision.
“We wanted to find a meet that was a little more competitive than what we were facing, and race against teams that we could be racing at NXR and the Nationals,” Trachsel said. “We just wanted to be up against the bigger teams that we don’t get a chance to race.”
Lexington is led by junior Jane Conrad, whose 5K personal best of 17:27.6 ranks No. 2 in Massachusetts. Conrad also finished third among a strong regional field at the Manchester Invitational, where Lexington scored a decisive 62-87 victory over Cumberland, R.I., a three-time defending state champion and a potential NXR contender.
The Minutemen’s five scoring runners averaged 19:22 on the demanding 5K course at Derryfield Park.
“We really wanted to find a course that is challenging and similar to NXR,” Trachsel said. “It came early, so the timing worked out well. The girls showed up and raced well.”
After winning last year’s Division 1A title and the Meet of Champions, Lexington finished sixth among 31 teams at NXR-NE. The Minutemen return much of their scoring lineup and have added standout runner Amelia Whorton, who ranks second on the team.
Trachsel believes this year’s squad has the potential to take the next step at NXR-NE.
“I fully believe we could have done it last year,” she said. “We just weren’t quite ready. We didn’t go out aggressively in that meet and it cost us.”
A strong performance at the VA XC Showcase could help Lexington build the confidence it needs heading into the postseason, and also bring the Minutemen one step closer to their national ambitions.
