It’s now time for Part 2 of the fall cross-country season. On Saturday, the best of the best from each division, from each sub division, will battle each other at their respective races at the MIAA Divisional Championships. We broke it down into capsules on who will be some of the top teams and athletes to keep an eye on this weekend.
We begin our previews with Division 2 girls, which includes Div. 2A, 1B and 1C.
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DIVISION STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Fort Devens
Division 2A
Day/Time: Saturday at 11 a.m.
Top Teams: Westwood, Canton, Walpole, Melrose
Runners To Watch: Marietta O’Connell. Marblehead; Natalie Martin, Norwood; Tea Pagnotti, Westwood; Lauren Raffetto, Canton; Reilly Powell, Melrose
Outlook: Our pick to win on Saturday is O’Connell, the defending state champion. But it won’t be easy for the gifted junior as there are several talented harrier behind her that could create some havoc. If the stats on athletic.net are correct, O’Connell has competed just twice this season. She was 11th in the Championship race of the Ocean State Invitational on Sept. 28 and a few weeks ago finished second in the Small/Medium School race of the Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational where she clocked a season best of 18:00.6. Who are some of the top challengers? Martin raced to PR and fifth-place time of 18:21.36 at last Saturday’s Frank Kelly Invitational. That time was nearly 30 second faster than her 18:49.80 effort at the Tri Valley League Championships where she was also fifth. Pagnotti was a runner-up at the TVL meet with a best of 18:38.40. Raffetto and Powell appear ready for top finishes, too. Raffetto, a sophomore, was fourth at the recent Hockomock League Championships, clocking 18:54.99. Powell, another tenth-grader, went sub-19 at the Twilight Invitational and has looked strong in several other races. She appears ready for a breakthrough performance this weekend. On the team side, No. 2 ranked Westwood is our favorite to win it all. The Wolverines have a chance to get their top four across the line before their next closest rival’s second. Canton, Melrose and Walpole should all be fighting for those other top spots.
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Division 2B
Day/Time: Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Top Teams: Northampton, Amherst-Pelham, Bedford, Wakefield
Runners To Watch: Maggie Kuchman, Holliston, Maeve O’Neil, Northampton, Sophia Warnetski, Ashland, Anna Massaro, Bedford; Mairead O’Neil; Annabelle Lynch, Holliston
Outlook: Kuchman gets our nod for individual honors this weekend. The Div. 2 titlist from last year’s Meet of Champions appears to be peaking at just the right time. In mid October, Kuchman captured the Tri Valley League Championships in Wrentham where she was timed in 18:09.17. She comes into this race fresh off a sub-18 performance from last weekend’s Frank Mooney Invitational where she was third overall with a season best of 17:49.17. We’re expecting Maeve O’Neil to contend, too. She came strides from taking gold at WMass XC Championships a few weeks ago where she ran a solid 18:39.41 on a tough 5K at Stanley Park, just .34 behind individual winner Megan Moran of Westfield. Warnetski, Mahoney, Massaro, Mairead O’Neill and Lynch should also figure in the mix. All five broke 19 minutes this fall. Northampton and Amherst-Pelham, ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in the coaches poll, appear to be the front-runners for team honors. Holliston, Bedford and Wakefield could also be fighting for top-five positions.
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Division 2C
Day/Time: Saturday at 2 p.m.
Top Teams: Whitinsville Christian, Arlington, Medfield
Runners To Watch: Emily Flagg, Whitinsville Christian; Emma Wierenga, Whitinsville Christian; Elise Casso, Falmouth Academy; Evie Lauzon, Arlington
Outlook: The overwhelming favorite to grab the individual title is Flagg. The Crusader sophomore has been unbeatable this season and we expect that streak to continue this weekend and more than likely into the next with the Meet of Champions on tap. Flagg ran her fourth sub-18 effort of the fall campaign last Saturday with a triumphant and all-time best of 17:21.92 at the Frank Mooney Invitational. While there are some quality opponents in this race, we expect it will be a solo effort for the gifted underclassmen. Wierenga, who was fourth at the Mooney Invite with a PR of 18:05.51, could make it a 1-2 finish for Whitinsville. Also expected to challenge are Casso and Lauzon, who have both dipped under 19 minutes this season with bests of 18:22.75 and 18:47.0, respectively. The Crusaders appear to have the edge in the team battle with Arlington and Medfield contesting for the next two spots.
