#2 Cambridge Rindge & Latin
Cambridge Rindge & Latin were the sleeper team last season. We didn’t even have them in our preseason rankings. That’s not the case this year. Even at #2, they have a strong case as being the most talented team heading into the fall. They’re fast and deep, with their top four running 16:03 or faster at Wrentham.
Their top two runners from last season, Leon Ibanez-Fraile and Thomas Dewitt both finished in the top 20 last season at the Meet of Champions, with Ibanez-Fraile finishing 9th. They followed that up with strong track seasons with Ibanez-Fraile running 9:23 and Dewitt running 9:27. Dewitt was just a freshman last year as well.
Their whole team was impressive on the track, which leads to the biggest question mark around their team: Can they translate their speed from the oval to the grass? They had five runners break 4:30 this past spring and they’re all returning. (One of them didn’t run XC last season though) In addition, Henry Parker, who ran 16:53 at the Division 1A race, ran 4:33 and a blazing 1:57 in the 800.
However, a 5K is not a mile, and it’s certainly not an 800. There’s no doubt Cambridge will be good this year. They were fifth at the Meet of Champs last season and bring back their entire team. But if they can translate their speed from the track, this team could be special.
Projected Top 5:
Leon Ibanez-Fraile 15:29
Thomas Dewitt 15:46
Liam Eldridge 15:56
Kieran Eichler 16:03
Gael Berzin 16:47
One Response
Had this group as the top team coming back. They will be very tough to beat.