D5 INDVIDUAL
Olivia Horgan SR Hamilton-Wenham HS
As last year's champion and mid-distance stud, Sarah Edwards, is now off and running for Virginia Tech, the door is open for a new victor to ascend the thrown. Last year's runner-up and Hamilton-Wenham senior Olivia Horgan would like nothing better than for that victor to be her. While being a distant runner-up, Olivia still had a very respectable performance and was well ahead of her 2014 Eastern MA Champs 14th-place performance. Following up on that strong 2nd-place finish, Horgan went on to take 14th at the All-State Meet and finished the season at NXN Northeast with a 66th-place finish. Olivia has put up some respectable track performances over the years, but definitely appears to more comfortable on the cross country season. Though her PRs might be a bit behind other competitors, Horgan will still deliver on the trails and contend for a top spot.
Jillian Howard SR Weston HS
For a majority of last fall, Jillian Howard was right on track for another banner cross country season. The Weston runner ran a very quick 18:09 at the Twilight Meet and a few weeks later took 4th at the Eastern MA Champs. Although probably eyeing on improving her 7th-place All-State finish from 2014, Howard appeared to be a bit off her game and finished in 33rd place. Despite the tough conclusion to the season, Jillian held her head high and strung together solid track performances throughout the two seasons. Based on previous year performances, Howard could find herself once again in the top 5 at Eastern MA Champs and a top-10 contender among all small school runners.
Katie Bradley JR Norton HS
Bradley of Norton may have been a bit off her game in 2015, but the junior from Norton has the potential to be one of the top 10 small school runners in the state. Last fall, Katie always had a presence in the front pack of races and put up some respectable performances, but they were still slightly off some of her races from 2014. Luckily every new season presents a clean slate and ample opportunities to run fast. We must not forget that Katie Bradley placed 8th at the 2014 All-State Meet, so it's quite possible to see her fighting for a spot as a top-5 small school runner this fall!
Grace Moroney JR Hamilton-Wenham HS
Taking over as one of the leaders for the highly-ranked small school from Wenham, Grace Moroney will need to be on her game every race out this season. The 2015 season was relatively successful for Moroney, who put up strong races at Bay State and Eastern MA Champs. It appeared she had a tough day at the All-State Meet, placing 77th and well off her time she had run earlier in the season at the Bay State Meet. Despite closing out last season on a sour note, we expect Grace to be back in the top 10 among her small school competitors and lead the Lady Generals to their 3rd team title in the last four years.
Madisen Martin JR Old Rochester Regional HS
A tenth place finisher at Eastern MA Champs in 2015 and a bit of a sleeper pick, Madisen Martin could sneak up on a few top D5 ladies. The Old Rochester junior made a big jump last year from 2014 and we saw her go from 17th to 10th at Eastern MA Champs and 79th to 44th at the All-State Meet. She might not be in contention to win the D5 race this season, but we will see her in top 10 and fighting to be in the top 20 at Gardner.
Pre-Season Eastern MA (D5) Rankings (FULL LIST)
| Place | Athlete | Yr | Team | Time | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jillian Howard | 11 | Weston High School | 19:08.36 | 1 | |
| 2 | Olivia Horgan | 11 | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School | 19:32.75 | 2 | |
| 3 | Katie Bradley | 10 | Norton High School | 19:49.40 | 3 | |
| 4 | Grace Moroney | 10 | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School | 19:57.53 | 4 | |
| 5 | Alexandra Kay | 11 | Arlington Catholic High School | 20:24.98 | 5 | |
| 6 | Kambrynn Bowman | 11 | Norton High School | 20:25.50 | 6 | |
| 7 | Madisen Martin | 10 | Old Rochester Regional High School | 20:27.05 | 7 | |
| 8 | Janaki Thangaraj | 11 | Watertown High School | 20:32.83 | 8 | |
| 9 | Emma Eglinton | 11 | Weston High School | 20:34.51 | 9 | |
| 10 | Anna Cassidento | 10 | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School | 20:36.75 | 10 |