Western Massachusetts Division 1 Girls
Northampton has won the last three divisional meets and looks capable of possibly doing it again this fall. But the same team that has been right behind the Blue Devils since 2014 is the same one that won't make it easy this year - Amherst-Pelham. The 2013 champions appear to have the firepower to regain the title and junior Sophia Jacobs-Towney will undoubtedly lead that charge. The two-time defending champion is the clear-cut favorite to make it a three-peat with a best of 18:10 from the Brown Northeast Invitational. All seven of Amherst-Pelham's varsity runners return this year, including fourth-place finisher Augusta Fricke and eight-place finisher Julia Hopley. But even though Northampton will be losing its top two runners from last year's divisionals to graduation - 2-3 finishers Leila Markosian and Evelyn Burke - it possesses a talent core that can make it happen again this season. Among some of their top returnees are Jemma Fisher, Mairead Biatner and Emma Yount.