Runners to Watch: Lexington’s Patrick Noonan
While only a junior, Patrick Noonan has already built an impressive career running for Lexington and Waltham Track Club. In 2023 as just an eighth grader, he ran 4:35 for the mile. The previous fall in 2022, he won the USATF Region 1 Junior Olympic Championships and went on to finish fourth at the National Junior Olympic Championships.
Runners to Watch: Lexington’s Jane Conrad
The top runner on the #1 ranked team in the state returns this season as a sophomore looking to assert herself amongst the state’s best. Jane Conrad was seventh last year at the Meet of Champions and fifth at the Division 1A race. Just looking at the numbers, the margin for improvement is rather small. However, after a strong freshmen season on the track, Conrad can look to close the gap on runners like Greta Hammer and Abigail Hennessy.
Runners to Watch: Westford Academy’s Emily Wedlake
A lot of the talk this off season focused on the record-breaking performance of Abigail Hennessy of Westford Academy. But as we mentioned in the team rankings, the Ghosts won the Meet of Champions last season without her. The driving factor behind their success last season was incoming senior Emily Wedlake, who was fifth at that race.
Runner’s to Watch: Brookline’s Liam Hartmann
As a sophomore last season Liam Hartman was 16th at the Meet of Champions and helped Brookline secure its third straight Division 1 Crown. His time of 16:18 is the fifth fastest time from all returning runners this season.
Runners to Watch: Monument Mountain Regional’s Everett Pacheco
Everett Pacheco of Monument Mountain Regional returns looking for his second straight Division Three crown. After finishing 10th as a sophomore, Pacheco would win this past fall in 16:09, a time that ranks fourth out of all returning runners from the Meet of Champions.
Runner’s to Watch: Natick’s John Bianchi
The number two returner from the Meet of Champions Division One race will be looking for an individual title as well as a team title this fall. John Bianchi was eighth last year and has the third fastest time, 15:59, of all returning runners. He will look to lead our number two ranked Natick squad to the team title after finishing fifth last season.
Runners to Watch: Westford Academy’s Abigail Hennessy
Despite missing most of the 2024 Cross-Country season, all eyes will be on Abigail Hennessy of Westford Academy this fall. After a historic 2025 track season that saw a new state record in the mile, Hennessy will look to leave her mark on the Cross-Country course as well.
Runners to Watch: Falmouth’s Silas Gartner
The fastest returner overall from last year’s Meet of Champions is Silas Gartner. He won the Division 2 race by ten seconds finishing in 15:42. He also won every race he entered except for three, and two of those were regional and national meets.
Preseason Boys #1: Concord-Carlisle
Concord-Carlisle returns their top eight runners from last season making them arguably the deepest team in the state. On paper they have a 1-5 spread from 16:08-16:23. Compared to some of the previous teams we’ve highlighted, those times may not jump off the page. However, if you dig into the results, you see a team built to win from top to bottom.
Preseason Girls #1: Lexington
Lexington tops our list as they bring back their top seven after fishing runner up at the Meet of Champions and winning the Middlesex League Meet. After finishing runner up to Needham at the Divisional race, you could argue their second place at the Meet of Champions was a surprise. There will be no surprises this year.