Catarina Rocha 2nd at Footlocker Nationals

 

 

 

 

After an autumn filled with leaving quality fields far behind her with devastating ease, Peabody’s Catarina Rocha finally had a pack to run with in yesterday’s Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships in San Diego. Rocha proved once again that she is money in a big race, as she sprinted past Minnesota’s Maria Hauger in the final 200 meters to take second in 17:29 over the rolling 3.1-mile Balboa Park layout. Seventh a year ago and 31st as a sophomore, the two-time Division 1 state champion finished  just four seconds behind the winner, Anna Rohrer of Indiana. After easily winning the Northeast Regionals two weeks earlier at Van Cortlandt Park in New York, Rochawas certain there would be plenty of company at the front of the pack. The pace was fast from the start, and Rocha ran relaxed  in 10th place through the opening mile before beginning to move up. She used her 4:50-mile speed in the closing stages of the race to clinch the runner-up position.             

 

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