2016 Amherst Invitational: Preview, Start Lists, and All-Time Lists!

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One of the finest meets in Massachusetts, Saturday's 21st Annual Amherst Invitational should provide plenty of early season fireworks. Attracting teams from across the state and the New England region, there will be no shortage of top notch individual and team competition in only the second official week of the 2016 season. 

Taking a look at the Boys varsity starting list, we are in for a real treat between the clash of two current #1 teams in New England. Making the trek up from Western Connecticut, the Mad Hatters of Danbury will look to assert their dominance and prove they are the #1 team in the region. Expect the boys in orange and blue to arrive in Amherst with a chip on their shoulders, as earlier this week they came up one point short to CT#2 and the defending CT State Champs, Staples HS.

Looking to hand Danbury their second defeat of the week, the boys of Lowell will be ready to roll after a strong season opener at the Clipper Relays. Last weekend in Newburyport, the Red Raiders showcased their impressive depth and had two squads well under the previous course record of 30:02. While it might be early September, Lowell appears to already have their ducks in a row and are in excellent form. 

We will also have to keep an eye on the local favorite, Holyoke. This squad rose up from the depths last fall and took their first ever Western MA D1 team title. This fall, they are no longer the underdogs and should be in the mix on Saturday for at least third place, but potentially 2nd if they have a big season opener. 

The fight for the individual title will come from a pack consisting of Anthony Rodriguez and Chris Polanco of Lowell, Steve Flannagan of Needham, Trevor Reed of Danbury, Jonathan Allard of Keene, and Joel Ramos of Holyoke. Polanco and Allard took 3rd and 4th in 2015, so we can expect them to be duking it out once again down the final homestretch. 


(The 2015 Amherst Invitational Girls Varsity Race)

The top teams toeing the line in the Girls Varsity race will be a good mix of ranked teams form all across Massachusetts. Taking 3rd last year overall and starting the season off in the Top 5 of the MSTCA Pre-Season polls, Hopkinton girls will look get their season off on the right foot and live up to their ranking. The Lady Hillers have a strong 1-2 one punch in their sophomore duo of Fischer and Stilwell, while they also boast a very tight spread between their 3-5 runners. 

Hoping to make a run at their Eastern MA competition will be the Central MA teams of Tyngsborough and Shepherd Hill. Despite being a small school, expect the Tyngsborough girls to make some noise and be pulled along by their big low-stick, Jaylan Fraser-Mines. Shepherd Hill ladies can expect strong running from the top-notch sophomore duo of James and Whitehead. They also boast a very tight grouping of their #1-#4 runners, so they are dangerous and ready to flex some muscle right out the gate.

Making the journey from right down the road, the Lady Blue Devils of Northampton will try to defend their ground in the Pioneer Valley. Taking 2nd overall as a team in 2015 with an impressive 18 second spread between their 1-5, Northampton once again enters the fall with a very compact group and the #1 ranking in Western MA. 

Out to defend her hometown, Sophi Jacobs-Townsley of Amherst will be our top pick for victory this Saturday. Despite being a well beaten second to Abigail Long in 2015, Jacobs-Towsnley has shown strong growth over the past year and is poised for a big sophomore year. Perhaps the only person up to give the Amherst harrier a run for her money will be Jaylan Fraser-Mines of Tyngsborough. The Central MA runner is a talented seasoned veteran who can easily match Townsley stride for stride over the rolling hills of Hampshire College. 

Fighting it out for the remaining top spots will be Rebecca James and Emma Whitehead of Sheperd Hill, Abigail Fischer of Hopkinton, Jamie Falla of Wachusett, and Elina Laurent of Concord-Carlisle.