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Massachusetts teams took advantage of an opportunity to race on the All State Meet course at Stanley Park Course in Westfield. Teams were evenly distributed in three different races per gender making for some interesting matchups.
The Paul Whitlock race opened the action as the defending State Champions of Lowell High School continued their winning ways. The Red Raiders placed six runners in the top fifteen and scored a very low 37 points. Seven Flanagan (4th-15:56) and Kevin Quinn (5th-15:59) led the Needham Rockets to a second place finish. Marcelo Rocha of Peabody cruised to the individual title, running 15:32.
The Dick Atkinson race had Central Mass powerhouse St John's of Shrewsbury (44 points) edging out Cambridge R&L (50 Points). Peter Monahan of St. John's battled Daniel Aschale of Cambridge throughout the last 800M as Monahan broke the tape with the fastest time of the day in 15:30. Aschale finished in 15:33.
The last Boys Race of the day had the Minutemen of Lexington battling it out with Mansfield for the second time this season. Lexington scored 47 point to win comfortably over runner up Mansfield (70 points). In the closest race of the day, Zach Manickas-Hill ( 15:49) outdueled Jack Crawford of Mansfield (15:50) by 1 second over the last fifty meter stretch.
The first girls race of the day featured Mass #1 Needham as the 1-2 punch of Margie Cullen (1st) and Sarah Armstrong (3rd) was to much for any other team to match. The Rockets finished with 48 points to win the Carolyn Dewey race. The Shamrocks of Bishop Feehan was second place with 78 points. Cullen (17:45) and Abigail Long (17:52) of Bishop Feehan had quite a duel on the last 800M grassy loop. Both girls turned in the top two times of the day.
The closest team battle of the day took place in the Maryann Goff Race as the Western Mass Champions from Lenox High School squeaked out a one point victory over Billerica High School. The Millionaires were led by Freshman Magdalena Sorrentino (5th-18:42) as they placed four runners in the top 15 and scored a one point victory with 81 points. The individual title was a battle of two of the best 800 Meter runners in the State, as Clare Martin (1st-18:07) of Newton South defeated Bellingham's Sarah Edwards (2nd-18:16).
The final race of the day had Lexington High School proving why they are a force to be reckoned with come November. The Minutewomen crushed the field as they scored a forty one point victory to win the Larry Bell Race. The individual title went to Shepherd Hill Freshman Rebekah James (18:45) as she finished just ahead of the Beverly duo of Abby Walsh (18:48) and Ashley Foley (18:52). Beverly was missing the state's fastest 5K runner in Julia Curtin.