WRENTHAM — Marri O’Connell proved at Saturday’s Div. 2 State cross nation Championships that she has mastered the Wrentham Developmental Center’s 5K structure.
Racing in chilly circumstances on the rolling, sun-splashed course, the Marblehead sophomore constructed a 50-yard lead with a 5:33 opening mile and was by no means challenged. She was alone at 2-miles (11:38) and cruised house for a straightforward 18-minute, 11-second win within the Div. 2A occasion. The race did lack the early drama of her race on the Kelley Invitational the place she misplaced a shoe, however put it on shortly and ran away from the sector for the win.
Her sneakers had been double-knotted Saturday as she bolted into the lead 100 yards in. “I felt a little off,” O’Connell mentioned. “I wanted to get out fast because of the narrow opening.”
Walpole’s Ila Zollo additionally broke 19-minutes together with her 18:52.8 second-place end. Minnechaug’s Kay Dickinson copped the bronze medal in 19:23.7. Adeline Lawlor’s Tenth-place end in 20:27.6 paced Melrose to the workforce title with 86 factors to edge Longmeadow’s 90 factors and third-place Walpole’s 91 factors.
The Div. 2B race proved to be one thing of an upset as Nashoba’s Caroline Collins pulled away from Lauren Raffetto of Canton within the last 800 to win in 18:21.4. Raffetto completed in 18:23.9 and Holliston’s Maggie Kuchman was third with an 18:30.2.
Defending champion Carmen Luisi of Holliston was within the lead pack by way of 2-miles earlier than fading to Tenth in a still-respectable 19:58.
Collins was completely satisfied together with her victory over a stacked subject.
“I kind of stuck with the pack and it started to disperse the last mile,” mentioned Boston University-bound Collins, who has 5:02 mile pace. “I took off with 800 to go.”
Wakefield scored 91 factors to comfortably defeat Newburyport (108 factors) and Northampton (111 factors) within the workforce competitors.
Marblehead additionally had a decisive winner on the boys’ facet the place Isaac Gross opened an enormous lead and cruised house in a fast 15:35.7. Gross was effectively forward of runner-up Caleb Barnes of Melrose (15:56.4) and teammate Nate Assa (16:12.9). Walpole was a straightforward winner within the workforce competitors with its’ 71 factors.
Gross was extraordinarily completely satisfied along with his lopsided win. “Totally, by 30 seconds,” he mentioned when requested if his time was a brand new private greatest. “When I race I go purely by instinct. When I got to the first hill I said ‘Isaac you can win this race.’ I talk a lot but just before the start my brain shuts off and there’s no dialogue.”
Nashoba’s star harrier, Adam Balewicz, was victorious within the Div. 2B race. His successful time of 15:34.9 makes him one of many favorites within the Div. 2 race at subsequent Saturday’s Meet of Champions in Devens. Danvers simply gained the 2B occasion with 71 factors. Groton-Dunstable put up a miniscule 50 level to win the 2C race. Manchester Essex’s Finn O’Hara was the person winner in 15:54.9.
Whitinsville Christian’s star harrier Emily Flagg was seven seconds forward of Georgia Brooks of Groton-Dunstable at 3K and held the result in the end. Flagg clocked 18:23.8 for the win. Georgia Brooks of Groton-Dunstable was second in 18:36.2 and Apponequet’s Hailey Desmarais clinched third together with her 18:58.8.
Source: www.bostonherald.com
