The Newton South girls cross country team managed to make it to the All-State Cross Country Championships last year for the 19th time in 20 seasons with a very young - yet very promising - squad.
This fall, South coach Steve McChesney is hoping the valuable experience gained a year ago will help lift the Lions back among the state’s elite squads. South took the first real step in that direction on Wednesday with a 16-46 victory against Boston Latin and a 15-50 shutout of Bedford on South’s home course of 2.9 miles. “Last year was not easy,” McChesney said. “But with a lot of help from the leadership of (since-graduated) Anna Laurence and Hannah Friedman, we were able to grow a great deal last year and make All-States.