Report from Steven:
We knew going into the DCL that it would be tough to break into the top 3 teams as DCL has gotten even tougher this year with 4 teams ranked in the top 10 in state divisions. I had told the team that a 4th place finish with a good effort was something that we could be satisfied with, but we were all planning to finish with a high placing.
However the DCL gives out team trophies to only the top 3 teams and somehow we always seem to manage a trophy year after year. This one was well earned as we finished 3rd behind Lincoln-Sudbury now ranked #1 in Division I state, Concord-Carlisle # 7 in D. I and managed to finish ahead of a Weston team that is ranked 4th in D.II State.
Rebecca Grusby continues what not only is the best freshman seasons in our history, but also a great season by any measure. The last time the DCL championship was run at LS Andrea Keklak from LS won in 18:17 and our Kathy O Keefe was 2nd in 18:19. That sort of puts Rebecca’s 2nd place time in 17:57 in perspective. That was a very fast romp.
Anna Rhatigan finished 10th in a solid 19:17. Lucrecia Aguilar was struggling with a minor illness and lost places in the last mile, but showed a lot of character and courage by hanging onto 13th place in 19:24.
I keep feeling like we are a more experienced team this year, but in truth this is the first high school cross country season for 4 of our top six runners today in Rebecca, Lizzie, Yasmine and Matia. So we have learned a great deal and come a long way thanks to our captains and other leaders.
Lizzy Fineman had a great day and her 4th place finish on the team and her 27th place in the meet was a huge boost both on the day and also looking forward. She followed her race plan in a way that we will need to move on to All State and made us more competitive in the DCL meet.
Yasmine Hashemi has been very consistent once she learned the sport and she ran another helpful race in placing 33rd to seal a top 3 team finish as our 5th. Matia Whiting was close behind in 40th in 21:16 with team captain Emily Caggiano running a solid race on her heels in placing 43rd in 21:31.
My feeling is that we ran a good solid team race that represented a good deal of team improvement over the season and we can feel good about the day.
I also know that the girls agree with me that we have more in us. We will work on a few tactics that got away from a few of our kids and solidify a few higher placings and move on to Ea. Ma. Division I States with a great chance to be one of the top 4 teams out of over 28 that make it on to All States.
We did not run Margalit Glasgow who has run in our top 4 at times. With her return to racing this weekend we are a deep team with a number of girls that have stepped up this season.
Sara Wang overcame a start that was not in the top 50 early to take 9th in the JV race in 21:15. Her ability to keep focused and to move up so far was amazing. Also running varsity caliber times were Caraline Pham, 15th in 21:32 and Caroline Delheim, 16th in 21:43. Annika McGraw was 8th in the 9th grade race.
Team Results
1. Lincoln-Sudbury 37
2. Concord-Carlisle 74
3. Newton South 83
4. Weston 102
5. Wesford 130
6. Acton-Boxborough 135
7. Boston Latin 201
8. Bedford 208
9. Wayland 237
10. Waltham 291
NS Varsity
2. Rebecca Grusby 17:57
10. Anna Rhatigan 19:17
13. Lucrecia Aguilar 19:24
27. Lizzie Fineman 20:32
33. Yasmine Hashemi 20:47
40. Matia Whiting 21:16
43. Emily Caggiano 21:31
JV
9. Sara Wang 21:15
15. Caraline Pham 21:32
16. Caroline Delheim 21:43
21. Louisa Kimmell 22:00
22. Leah Jacobson 22:02
31. Sarina Weiss 23:02
55. Amy Gilbert 24:44
57. Audrey Hooker 24:52
9th Grade 3K
8. Annika McGraw 16:46
12. Noosha Aliabadi 17:09
24. Ksenia Polapov 18:55
