The Hamilton-Wenham girls' cross-country team secured five top-14 finishes to win the MIAA Division 3B title at the Wrentham Developmental Center, including a runner-up performance by Grace Rich, a sophomore, who trailed only Gardner senior Krista Bettez (18:29.56) before finishing in 18:34.08.
After Rich, Asa Labell was fifth (19:10.74), Charlotte Madden sixth (19:21.02), Anneliese Abers 13th (20:24.81), and Talia Labell 14th (20:26.30).
Knowing his athletes have what it takes to compete with the state's best, longtime H-W coach Stephen Sawyer encouraged some of his top runners to hang back at Wrentham Developmental Center in hopes of conserving some energy for the Meet of Champions next Saturday at Fort Devens.
The conservative strategy didn't stand in the way of the Generals, who cruised to team titles in both 3B races.
"The kids have been pointing to these races all season long," Sawyer said. "They had a good summer of training and they've trained hard all season. We talk about what the kids want to do every day - we come to a consensus, and then they go out and do it.
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"It's a big day for us."
The Norwell girls, like the Clipper boys, shined atop 3A, with freshman Katherine Murray (18:50.59) claiming the crown.
Murray's finish was one of the highlights of the meet, as she made a late push to gain a few strides on Swampscott freshman and second-place finisher Annabelle Averett (18:53.37).
"We were approaching the corner to get to the finish line, so I started going faster," Murray said. "I'm very excited. This is my first year of cross-country, so I'm really happy all of my training paid off."
Bromfield senior Evelyn Wool (18:27.21) finished third to lead the Trojans to a 3C girls' team title.
Division 2 -- In the Division 2A girls' race at Devens, Norwood senior Natalie Martin (19:08) rolled to the dominant victory over Marblehead junior Marrietta O'Connell (19:24.72).
O'Connell held a sizeable lead heading into the final mile, but Martin remained confident she could make a late push to the front.
"Staying tucked in at the start was definitely the plan, and then just each lap, each minute, just kind of catch my way back up to her," Martin said. "Once I took [the lead] on that downhill, I just kind of knew that was my moment."
In the girls' 2B race, Holliston senior Maggie Kuchman, the reigning Division 2 champion, cruised to a 24-second victory (18:50.47) ahead of runner-up Maeve O'Neil of Northampton (19:14.54).
Likewise, in 2C, Whitinsville Christian sophomore Emily Flagg (18:07) cruised to the fastest girls' time of the afternoon in a 67-second victory over senior teammate Emma Wierenga in second (19:12.69). The win extended Flagg's unbeaten streak in invitationals to eight races, as the Crusaders rolled to the team victory with 80 points.
Division 1 -- With junior Greta Hammer setting the pace with the fastest time of the day (18:13), Needham (81) edged Lexington for the 1A crown at Northfield Mountain. The Rockets had six place in the top 26.
"I was proud of myself and our team because [after finishing] I could see my teammates, and I knew they were doing amazing too," Hammer said.
The Tuxbury sisters, Charlotte (18:46.10), Emma (19:27.02) and Maddie (19:32.40), went 1-3-4 for Wellesley (55), but Westford took the 1B title behind runner-up Emily Wedlake (18:53.94), Diya Shresha, Emily Deeks, Rosie Deeks going 8-9-12.
"[Northfield's] a hard course, but I kind of like harder courses," said Charlotte Tuxbury, who has been battling an illness. "I think it's more
Billerica (36) recorded the lowest team score of the day to take IC, led by sophomore Gianna McGowan (18:44).
"My plan was to go out and dominate the hills, because those are my favorite," McGowan said.
Matty Wasserman reported from Devens, Brad Joyal from Wrentham, and Mike Maynard from Northfield.
MIAA Division 1A qualifier
at Northfield Mountain
Individual -- 1. Greta Hammer, Needham, 18:13.91; 2. Aoife Shovlin, Cambridge, 18:57.01; 3. Ciara Evans, Newton North, 19:02.62; 4. Sophia Juanes Seto, Cambridge, 19:05.91; 5. Janie Conrad, Lexington, 19:14.92; 6. Emilia Smith, Attleboro, 19:21; 7. Emersyn DePonte, Taunton, 19:30.23; 8. Naomi Witt, Wachusett, 19:35.71; 9. Sasha Lamakina, Framingham, 19:42.28; 10. Caitlyn Chang, Braintree, 19:44.66.
Team results -- 1. Needham, 81; 2. Lexington, 86; 3. Weymouth, 89; 4. Cambridge, 95; 5. Newton North, 107; 6. Braintree, 186; 7. Wachusett, 190.
MIAA Division 1B qualifier
at Northfield Mountain
Individual -- 1. Charlotte Tuxbury, Wellesley, 18:46.1; 2. Emily Wedlake, Westford, 18:53.94; 3. Emma Tuxbury, Wellesley, 19:27.02; 4. Maddie Tuxbury, Wellesley, 19:32.4; 5. Macey Shriner, Plymouth North, 19:37.77; 6. Eleanor Angeles-Whitfield, Marshfield, 20:11.1; 7. Maria Chopas, Concord-Carlisle, 20:12.86; 8. Diya Shrestha, Westford, 20:18.31; 9. Emily Deeks, Westford, 20:19.08; 10. Leah Buckley, Peabody, 20:21.13.
Team results -- 1. Westford, 50; 2. Wellesley, 55; 3. Concord-Carlisle, 105; 4. Peabody, 124; 5. Winchester, 136; 6. North Andover, 137; 7. Marshfield, 172.
MIAA Division 1C qualifier
at Northfield Mountain
Individual -- 1. Gianna McGowan, Billerica, 18:44.15; 2. Braelyn Graham, Oliver Ames, 19:29.42; 3. Kylie Donahue, Billerica, 19:42.5; 4. Caitlyn Donahue, Billerica, 19:43.02; 5. Elyse Srodawa, Hopkinton, 19:47.87; 6. Madeline Courtemanche, Central Catholic, 19:56.72; 7. Iole Apostoli, Oliver Ames, 20:00.16; 8. Katie Galgoczy, North Attleborough, 20:02.17; 9. Hannah Dupill, Oliver Ames, 20:09.01; 10. Molly Hackett, Reading, 20:09.17.
Team results -- 1. Billerica, 36; 2. Oliver Ames, 65; 3. Central Catholic, 132; 4. Bishop Feehan, 153; 5. Notre Dame (Hingham), 155; 6. Hopkinton, 174; 7. Milton, 197.
MIAA Division 2A qualifier
at Devens 5K Course
Individual -- 1. Natalie Martin, Norwood, 19:08.35; 2. Marrietta O'Connell, Marblehead, 19:24.72; 3. Sara Blanco, Latin Academy, 19:32.74; 4. Reilly Powell, Melrose, 19:38.07; 5. Ila Zollo, Walpole, 19:39.46; 6. Tea Pagnotti, Westwood, 19:47.94; 7. Lauren Raffetto, Canton, 19:53.64; 8. Maggie Joyce, Minnechaug, 19:54.47; 9. Catherine Dickson, Minnechaug, 20:06.33; 10. Susannah Rockers, Westwood, 20:15.87.
Team results -- 1. Westwood, 78; 2. Walpole, 103; 3. Lawrence, 113; 4. Canton, 131; 5. Minnechaug, 136; 6. Masconomet, 208; 7. Marblehead, 222.
MIAA Division 2B qualifier
at Devens 5K Course
Individual -- 1. Maggie Kuchman, Holliston, 18:50.47; 3. Mia Rent, Wayland, 19:43.94; 4. Madeline Mahoney, Nauset, 19:47.95; 5. Annabelle Lynch, Holliston, 19:56.14; 6. Anna Massaro, Bedford, 20:00.34; 7. Sophia Warnetski, Ashland, 20:14.55; 8. Lily Sallee, Wakefield, 20:22.81; 9. Ella Rogers, Nashoba, 20:27.59; 10. Maeve O'Neil, Northampton, 20:29.8.
Team results -- 1. Amherst-Pelham, 97; 2. Newburyport, 107; 3. Northampton, 108; 4. Danvers, 144; 5. Bedford, 144; 6. Holliston, 164; 7. Wakefield, 187.
MIAA Division 2C qualifier
at Devens 5K Course
Individual -- 1. Emily Flagg, Whitinsville Christian, 18:07.32; 2. Emma Wierenga, Whitinsville Christian, 19:12.69; 3. Elise Casso, Falmouth Academy, 19:20.21; 4. Marianna Kay, Bishop Fenwick, 20:01.48; 5. Meghan McEleney, Groton-Dunstable, 20:05.43; 6. Kelsey Kwiatek, St. Mary's, 20:07.28; 7. Molly McIntyre, Norton, 20:17.31; 8. Charlotte Kiley, Wilmington, 20:29.12; 9. Addy Hunt, Wilmington, 20:39.85; 10. Chloe McCormack, Medfield, 20:40.03.
Team results -- 1. Whitinsville Christian, 80; 2. Medfield, 104; 3. Groton-Dunstable, 145; 4. Dover-Sherborn, 151; 5. Bishop Fenwick, 152; 6. Wilmington, 191; 7. Old Rochester, 212.
MIAA Division 3A qualifier
at Wrentham Developmental Center
Individual -- 1. Katherine Muray, Norwell, 18:50.59; 2. Annabelle Averett, Swampscott, 18:53.37; 3. Gabrielle Holdsworth, East Bridgewater, 19:13.53; 4. Jessica Bourne, Weston, 19:18.45; 5. Teagan Galvagni, Greater Lowell, 19:20.77; 6. Ava Burl, Triton, 19:25.6; 7. Olivia Pendleton, Dennis-Yarmouth, 19:28.06; 8. Lily Beland, Greater Lowell, 19:31.03; 9. Collette Heil, Swampscott, 19:34.45; 10. Anne Moser, Weston, 19:39.87.
Team results -- 1. Norwell, 78; 2. Greater Lowell, 108; 3. Dennis-Yarmouth, 181; 4. Seekonk, 182; 5. Triton, 205; 6. Norfolk Aggie, 219; 7. Weston, 236.
MIAA Division 3B qualifier
at Wrentham Developmental Center
Individual -- 1. Krista Bettez, Gardner, 18:29.56; 2. Grace Rich, Hamilton-Wenham, 18:34.08; 3. Amelia Desilets, Monument Mtn., 18:45.05; 4. Katie Massey, Advanced Math and Science, 18:49.56; 5. Asa Labell, Hamilton-Wenham, 19:10.74; 6. Charlotte Madden, Hamilton-Wenham, 19:21.02; 7. Kathleen Barry, Hampshire, 19:53.91; 8. Yasmine Oubtrou, Pittsfield, 19:54.73; 9. Hannah Levesque, Tyngsborough, 20:03.33; 10. Jillian Dionne, Lunenburg, 20:04.43.
Team results -- 1. Hamilton-Wenham, 40; 2. Hampshire, 102; 3. Advanced Math and Science, 111; 4. Monument Mtn., 119; 5. Sturgis East, 163; 6. Gardner, 179; 7. Tyngsborough, 190.
MIAA Division 3C qualifier
at Wrentham Developmental Center
Individual -- 1. Cameron Davis, Oxford, 17:53.58; 2. Emma Genovese, Millis, 18:24.36; 3. Evelyn Wool, Bromfield, 18:27.21; 4. Rosie Bradley, Bromfield, 18:42.5; 5. Annabella Lamoreaux, Sutton, 19:27.76; 6. Sylvie Dibartolomeo, Frontier, 19:32.69; 7. Virginia Krezmien, Mohawk Trail, 19:49.91; 8. Nora Schoeny, Lenox, 20:01.69; 9. Shea Conroy, Millis, 20:08.98; 10. Shayla Massicotte, Narragansett, 20:11.87.
Team results -- 1. Bromfield, 87; 2. Mt. Greylock, 94; 3. Lenox, 130; 4. Hopedale, 166; 5. Parker Charter, 170; 6. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion, 185; 7. Mohawk Trail, 209.
Matty Wasserman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @Matty_Wasserman.