Warrior 3x3k Relay

Warrior 3x3K XC Relay

Some very good teams took to the starting line at Franklin Park on Saturday to kick-off the invitational season in a very unorthodox format.  The Warrior 3x3K Relay is exactly what its name implies.   Each team has three members, and each member runs a 3,000 meter loop.  Encompassing the majority of the traditional 5K course, the 3K course retains all the good parts; including the hill.  But what does a race of this format tell us about the teams who participated?  As expected, not much. It's difficult to tell the strength of a team when each coach has a different philosophy on how to construct their groups of three.

But that is not to say that the race was unproductive.  In fact, it might be the perfect way to start the season.  The format is a fun way for the athletes to start a long and pressure filled competitive season.  In addition, it’s a great way for coaches to see their athletes at a high tempo without having to name a varsity squad.  The transition from summer training to racing is a critical component of any season, but placing too much emphasis on September performances is a recipe for destroying a team’s peak cycle.  The Warrior 3x3K Relay turned out to be just the right combination of fun, competition, and work. 

Girls
1st - Natick Annie McElaney, Erin Murphy, Ellie Holman 35:35.9
2nd- Hopkinton Natalie Mazur, Shelby Aarden, May kate Cavanugh 36:21.1
3rd - Brookkline Charlotte Cole, Mary Fuhlbrigge, Jessica Lu 36:26.3

Boys
1st - Brookline Mark Perry, Tharindu Weersinghe, Matt Goroff 29:23.0
2nd - Newton North Justin Keefe, Gabe Montague, David Demerst 29:27.8
3rd-  Brookline Aaron Klein, Jesse Fajnzylber, Ezra Coopersmith 29:54.3

 

 

Below are the results if the meet was scored as an invitational.  This is purely hypothetical because the relay format prevents teams from using pack running strategies and athletes often cannot race head-to-head.  But because many teams split their squads to create even groups, it helps illustrate the overall strength of a program.

Varsity Girls 3000 Meter Run Team Scores                 

==========================================================================
    Team                        Pts     1    2    3    4    5   (6)  (7) 
==========================================================================
  1 Weymouth                    60      1    5   12   19   23   27   33  
      Total Time: 1:00:19      Average: 12:03.72      1-5 Split: 1:16
  2 Natick                      64      3    6    9   22   24   29   31  
      Total Time: 1:00:41      Average: 12:08.16      1-5 Split: 1:03
  3 Needham                     75      2    7   11   18   37   41   43  
      Total Time: 1:00:56      Average: 12:11.10      1-5 Split: 1:33
  4 NS                          109    10   16   25   28   30   34   35  
      Total Time: 1:02:58      Average: 12:35.68      1-5 Split: 54
  5 Brookline                   119     4   21   26   32   36   40   42  
      Total Time: 1:03:08      Average: 12:37.62      1-5 Split: 1:25
  6 Ursuline                    125    13   15   20   38   39   44   47  
      Total Time: 1:03:010      Average: 12:37.98      1-5 Split: 1:05
  7 Hopkinton                   130     8   14   17   45   46   48   49  
      Total Time: 1:03:43      Average: 12:44.60      1-5 Split: 1:46
 

 

Varsity Boys 3000 Meter Run Team Scores                  

==========================================================================
    Team                        Pts     1    2    3    4    5   (6)  (7) 
==========================================================================
  1 Brookline                   27      2    3    4    5   13   15   16  
      Total Time: 48:54      Average: 9:46.72      1-5 Split: 44
  2 NN                          49      1    6   11   14   17   23   26  
      Total Time: 49:55      Average: 9:58.98      1-5 Split: 1:00
  3 Weymouth                    74      7    8   18   20   21   25   28  
      Total Time: 51:11      Average: 10:14.16      1-5 Split: 31
  4 Needham                     100    10   12   22   27   29   34   35  
      Total Time: 52:25      Average: 10:28.94      1-5 Split: 53
  5 Natick                      113     9   19   24   30   31   32   33  
      Total Time: 53:04      Average: 10:36.86      1-5 Split: 1:05
 

 

Results

Photos

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