The final batch of league and conference championships took place this past weekend, with nine meets contested on the open trails. The Dual Valley Conference Championships at Franklin Park kicked off the competition Friday, while the remaining meets were held Saturday, with nearly half taking place at the Wrentham Developmental Center.
The meets featured several teams and individuals who could be battling for top honors at their respective divisional state championships and the Meet of Champions, which gets underway in two weeks following Saturday’s Frank Mooney Invitational.
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Cambridge Rindge & Latin, the state’s top-ranked boys’ team in the New Balance Power Rankings, proved its worth in the No. 1 spot at Friday’s Dual Valley Conference Championships. Facing No. 5 Concord-Carlisle at Franklin Park, the Falcons left little doubt about the outcome, sweeping the top five positions en route to a 19-73 victory over the Patriots.
Senior Leon Ibanez-Fraile led the way for Concord-Carlisle, taking first overall in 15 minutes, 43.2 seconds on the moderately challenging five-kilometer course. Cambridge Rindge & Latin junior Gael Berzin (second, 15:53.2) and sophomore Thomas Dewitt (third, 15:59.1) also broke 16 minutes.
The girls’ race produced the opposite result, with individual winner Maria Chopas leading third-ranked Concord-Carlisle to a 29-70 decision over Cambridge Rindge & Latin. Chopas covered the 5K course in 18:27.8. She was followed by C-C senior Pelin Turner (second, 18:43.3) and Westford Academy’s Diya Shrestha (third, 18:47.0).
With all five of its scorers among the top 10, Weston High was a convincing winner in the Foley Division. The Wildcats cruised to a 26-58 decision over runner-up Wayland.
In a breakout performance, cross-country newcomer Charlie Guthrie, a Boston Latin sophomore, captured the race in a personal-best 15:48.8 on the 5K layout at Franklin Park. Weston teammates junior Hunter Waechter (15:55.3) and senior Matthew Fitzgibbon (16:03.9) led the way for the No. 17-ranked Wildcats, finishing second and third, respectively. As a team, Weston averaged 16:38.2 among its scoring runners.
On the girls’ side, another underclassman crossed the line first in the Foley Division, with Weston freshman Elena Wiesman taking top honors in 20:02. Wayland’s Ivy Robertson (second, 20:38.5) and teammate Ava Miller (third, 20:52.6) were the next two finishers.
Boston Latin claimed the girls’ team title, placing five runners among the top 12. The Wolfpack were led by sophomore Madeleine Bukhman, who finished fourth in 21:08.0, and eighth-grader Masnali Rao, who was fifth in 21:14.5. Boston Latin defeated Bedford, 38-56.
SATURDAY
It was five consecutive boys’ titles for second-ranked Brookline at the Bay State Conference Championships. The Warriors placed all five of their scorers among the top 20 in a 31-63 victory over fifth-ranked Newton North at the Wrentham Developmental Center.
Separated by less than two seconds, Brookline teammates Ibrahim Abdel Dayem and Liam Hartmann finished 1-2 in the race. Abdel Dayem took the individual title in 15:23.9, with Hartmann close behind in 15:25.2. Newton North’s Ryan Costell placed third in 15:29.6, while seven runners in the race broke 16 minutes.
Fourth-ranked Needham captured the girls’ team title with a 52-86 triumph over Newton North. Senior Claire Cianciolo was the top finisher for the Rockets, placing sixth overall in 18:41.7. Junior teammate Eva Scharf was eighth in 18:47.8.
Milton junior Grace Danielson captured individual honors, breaking the tape in 18:20.5. Barnstable junior Chloe Dinh was second in 18:33.0, followed by Framingham junior Daria Lamakina in third at 18:34.4.
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There was little separation between the top two finishers in the girls’ race at Saturday’s South Coast Conference Championships at Wrentham.
Seekonk junior Jaylyn Albano claimed the individual crown in 19:38.9, edging Dighton-Rehoboth Regional sophomore Alyssa Daniels, who finished second in 19:40.3. Old Rochester senior Cassie Carroll was third in 19:49.2.
Old Rochester took home the team title with a 27-60 victory over runner-up Seekonk.
Apponequet junior Jackson Nardi captured the boys’ race in 17:02.5. Greater New Bedford senior Zachary Houghton was second in 17:20.7, while Seekonk senior Jackson Whitford led the Warriors to the team title with a third-place finish in 17:49.5.
Seekonk rolled to a 59-89 victory over Greater New Bedford.
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Fourth-ranked North Andover captured the boys’ title at the Merrimack Valley Conference Championships in Dracut, handily defeating Andover, 48-89.
Senior Landon Zoss led the Scarlet Knights with a second-place finish in a school-record 15:28. He finished just a stride behind individual winner Mason Niles of Billerica, who crossed the line in 15:27.0. North Andover senior Sahil Gandhi was third in 15:35. Seven runners in the race broke 16 minutes.
Billerica dominated the girls’ race, placing four runners among the top five in a convincing 19-79 victory over North Andover. Junior Kylie Donahue won the race in an impressive 17:50.0. She was followed by Chelmsford senior Mia McCusker (second, 18:22.0), Billerica freshman Maya Niles (third, 18:32.0), junior Caitlyn Donahue (fourth, 18:39.0), senior Gianna McGowan (fifth, 18:54.0) and junior Sabrina Goirski (sixth, 19:01.0).
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Hamilton Wenham, ranked No. 19 in last week’s poll, scored an impressive 42-70 victory over North Reading at Saturday’s Cape Ann League Championships at Essex North Shore.
The Generals were fueled by a 1-2 performance by senior teammates Asa Labell and Grace Rich. Label was timed in 19:13.3 for the win, while Rich clocked 19:36.6 for second. Manchester Essex sophomore River Martin was third in 19:52.9.
A sixth-runner tiebreaker determined the winner in the boys’ race. Amesbury and Manchester Essex were deadlocked at 80-80 after each team’s top five crossed the line. Amesbury was able to pull out the victory on the finish of junior Landon Mitchell, who was 28th overall in 18:35.1. All seven of the Red Hawks’ varsity finished ahead of Manchester Essex’s sixth runner.
Triton senior Cassidy McBee won the race. McBee edged Newburyport sophomore Nordeen Fadil by just 0.06 seconds with his time of 16:34.9. Manchester Essex junior Isaiah Nicastro was third with a time of 16:45.2.
Triton senior Cassidy McBee 16:34.9 Newburyport sophomore Nordeen Fadil 16:35.5 Manchester Essex junior Isaiah Nicastro 16:45.2. Amesbury’s top finishers were senior Seth Glidden (sixth, 17:05.5) and junior Harrison Sullivan (seventh, 17:08.8). Senior teammate Josiah Fugate also cracked the top 10, placing ninth overall in 17:17.8.
North Quincy and Pembroke were the respective girls’ and boys’ victor at Saturday’s Patriot League Championships at Silver Lake Regional.
North Quincy defeated Pembroke, 33-76, highlighted by a 1-3 finish by senior Ada Cote (19:17.7) and junior Joanna Chen (19:46.2). Plymouth South’s Evie Chadwick was sandwiched between the two teammates in second with a time of 19:23.2.
Pemboke beat Marshfield, 66-75, for its crown. The Titrans claimed the top two positions with senior Nathan Palmieri winning the race in 15:58.2. Sophomore Logan Holloway took the runner-up spot in 16:02.5. Marshfield sophomore Conor Rightmire was third at 16:07.9.
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Senior Lauren Raffetto led Canton to an impressive 46-81 victory over Franklin at Saturday’s Hockomock League Championships. Raffetto covered the 5K course at Wrentham in 18:24.5. Junior teammate Adileh Azar was second with a time of 18:57.0. North Attleboro senior Molly Galgoczy was third in 19:04.8.
North Attleboro senior Anthony Malakidis raced to one of the top times in the state to grab individual hnors in the boys’ race. Malakidis averaged sub five-minute miles with a PR of 15:17.7. Oliver Ames teammates, senior Corey Yifru (second,15:55.0) and senior Devon McStowe (third,15:57.2), took the next two positions. Led by their efforts, Oliver Ames captured the team title with a 45-89 decision over Sharon.
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SUNDAY
Holliston sophomore Lucy Downin broke 18 minutes for the third time this season to capture the girls’ race of Sunday’s Tri Valley Championships at Wrentham. Downin won by 46 seconds with a time of 17:57.0. Norwood junior Bridget Flynn was timed in 18:43.2 for second. Holliston sophomore Emerson Harrington was third at 18:53.7.
Westwood took the team title, defeating second-place Hollsiton 64-73. Senior Hailey Cashman was the top finisher for Westwood, placing sixth overall with a time of 19:34.2.
In the boys’ race, Hopkinton survived a close 58-60 win over Dover Sherborn. The victor were sparked by a victory from Jackson Doyle, who crossed the line in 16:08.4. Ashland senior Luca Domestico, who was second in 16:23.4 Hopkinton junior Matthew Fitzgibbon was third with a time of 16:31.7
One Response
Landon Zoss is from Andover. Sahil Gandhi is from Billerica.