Sometimes second best ain't all that bad.
Facing perennial power and defending champion La Salle Academy in the Distance Medley Relay during Day 1 of the Dartmouth Relays on Friday, Marshfield clocked the nation No. 12 with a runner-up time of 10 minutes, 46.06 seconds. La Salle, behind a 4:16 1,600m anchor from DJ Principe, won the race in 10:27.45, the fastest clocking in the country this year.
Comprising Marshfield's squad was Joey Donovan, Jimmy Jordan, Mike Maglio and Derek Holmes. Finishing fourth overall was St. John Prep in 10:48.58.
The foursome of Alexina Hurley, Kelsey Long, Avery Leydon and Cayla Barretto led Woburn to a third-place finish in the girls' DMR with a combined time of 12:35.26 (US #6).
In other events, Woburn's Laura Flagg was a winner in the unseeded two-mile run where she was timed in 11:54.52. Michael Spooner of North Middlesex was third in the boys' two mile, finishing at 9:53.16.
Walham had a 1-2-3 finish in the boys' unseeded triple jump with the trio of Antonio DiGenova (first, 42 feet, 7 inches), Andrew Chen (second, 42-6.5) and Keith Mukire (third, 41-3.75). Andover's Kassie Brink, a sophomore, captured the girls' triple jump with a leap of 35-2.5.
Colin Fitzpatrick of Lowell was fifth in the unseeded mile where he crossed the line in 4:39.90.