McDonald, Aarden BAA Scholastic Champions ! Joe Reardon Apr 19, 2015

Shelby Aarden pretty much figured that the BAA Scholastic Mile would come down to herself and defending champion Lauren Hazzard, who just happens to be Aarden's Hopkinton High teammate. Both runners had experience in the unique race on the streets near the marathon finish line and they sported the fastest two mile times in the field.

New Balance Grand Prix Roundup Joe Reardon Feb 08, 2015

The question was raised to teenage phenom Mary Cain following her brilliant race in the 1000 at Saturday evening's New Balance Grand Prix at the Reggie Lewis Center: What advice would you give to high school athletes with the class meet championships and all-state meet looming?

North Attleboro Boys, Bishop Feehan Girls D3 Champions Joe Reardon Jan 17, 2015

Bishop Feehan's girls dedicated the meet to former coach Dom Curano who passed away last year and came away with a win over Hingham with 58 points. The Harbormen put up 48 points for second. The Shamrocks had big wins in the 4x50 dash (24.74) and sprint medley (4:13.77).

"It really meant a lot," said Bishop Feehan head coach Paul Powell. "It's been a long time since we won this thing. About halfway through I figured it would come down to us and Hingham."

Boston Holiday Challenge Roundup Joe Reardon Dec 28, 2014

It was a technical mistake in Isabella DiMare's specialty that she knows she can get away with early in the season and still recover quickly enough to pull out a victory. The Notre Dame Academy star has no intention, however, of it happening late February and early March during championship season.

Dietz Punches Ticket to San Diego ! Joe Reardon Nov 30, 2014

All Erin Dietz had to focus on at Saturday's Foot Locker Northeast Regionals was putting in an all-out effort in the cold and she'd be on her way to San Diego in two weeks.

For the smiling Dietz, her strategy went as planned after all her pre-event concerns surrounding the biggest race of the season never came to fruition.

Dietz had the sneaking suspicion that the race could possibly be waged in mud and snow in the days leading up to the big event. So when the Div. 2 Mass state champion found the rugged 3.1-mile Van Cortlandt Park layout to be dry and without a hint of snow when she toured the course on Friday, Dietz knew the conditions would be perfect and she'd be able to take full advantage of the quirks (ie. hills) on the fabled stomping grounds in the Bronx.

Dietz Outruns Lantz for D2 Title Joe Reardon Nov 16, 2014

Bedford's Erin Dietz always has a half smile on her face when she's running, giving the impression that what she's doing isn't difficult but a whole lof of fun. That smile broadened a whole lot more after the Div. 2 All-State raceon Saturday.

Coming off her third consecutive Div. 5 EMass win, Dietz shook defending Div. 2 champion Olivia Lantz of Manchester Essex after passing 2 miles and lengthened her gap on the way to a dominant win in 18:19. Lantz held on to second in 18:43 and Ipswich's Emily Demarco rounded out the top three in 18:59.

Carleo, Cooney Crowned Champions ! Joe Reardon Nov 16, 2014

Nick Carleo made it clear in the week leading up to Saturday's All-State meet that he was perfectly willing to back off the pace if he was feeling less than 100% or sluggish on Franklin Park's 3.1-mile course. 

Carleo Cruises Towards All States ! Joe Reardon Nov 09, 2014

Nick Carleo walked through the finish chute, his face serene, the only sign that he had exerted himself was the beads of sweat that collected on his forehead. With just two or possibly three races left on the schedule this fall, it's inevitable that the Newburyport speedster will have to go all out in at least one of them.

That next gear is what separates Carleo from the rest of the elite cross country runners in Massachusetts

Keklak Rises To the Top ! Joe Reardon Nov 08, 2014

WRENTHAM - Ariel Keklak hasn't asked her older sister, two-time all-state champion Andrea, for many tips on how to traverse the hills and trails this season. The Lincoln-Sudbury junior may want some pointers for next week at the all-state meet after outdueling a strong pack to capture the Div. 2 race at yesterday's EMass Cross Country Championships on the grounds of the Wrentham Developmental Center.

Romano Tops Field at Catholic Memorial Invite Joe Reardon Oct 19, 2014

On a perfect sun-splashed Indian Summer morning, it seemed almost poetic that Mansfield's Dan Romano wrestled away the lead for good on the leaf-covered trails of the tranquil Wilderness.

Racing for the first time on the 3.1-mile Franklin Park course at yesterday's 54th Annual Catholic Memorial Invitational, Romano jockeyed for the lead with Methuen's Jeff Reddy and Marcelo Rocha of Peabody through a 4:56opening. The elite threesome was still within yards of each other as they went through 2 miles in 10:21 in the varsity race.

Bay State Invite: Grusby Steals the Show, Feehan Top Team ! Joe Reardon Oct 05, 2014

The dream matchup was set and it looked as though the state's two most celebrated female cross country runners were going to run each other into the ground to send a message to each other and the rest of the state.

But it was Newton South's Rebecca Grusby who stole the limelight at Saturday's Bay State Invitational.

Bay State Invite: Carleo Looks Sharp, Lowell Top Team ! Joe Reardon Oct 05, 2014

Nick Carleo put on a superb display of just how to run a controlled race, well out in front, at Saturday's Bay State Invitational.

The defending Div. 2 state champion out of Newburyport was relaxed the entire way and still had plenty left at the finish line in what was his first big race of the season.

Carleo was barely breathing hard after tearing through an opening 4:46 mile and destroying the Kevin Black field with a sterling time of 15:40.12 on the slick 3.1-mile Franklin Park course.

Hot Win for Rocha at Kelley Invite ! Joe Reardon Sep 28, 2014

WRENTHAM - It looks as though there's another Rocha ready to make his mark on the cross country trails in Massachusetts.

Cross country fans and junkies sat up and took notice when Peabody's Marcelo Rocha destroyed the Div. 1 freshman field by almost 40 seconds over 1.9 miles. at last year's Frank Kelley Cross Country Invitational. And Rocha really opened eyes in the spring when he knocked off a superb 9:38 in the all-state 2 mile.

So it was hardly a surprise when the super talent put up another solid performance yesterday in running away with th