Girls Weekend Recap
MSTCA Twilight Invitational
Falmouth's Barnstable County Fairgrounds played host to the weekend's most unique and festive meet, as the Twilight Invite nearly doubled its participation from 2011 and saw some of the most spirited races we have seen all fall. The atmosphere was clearly different from anything we've seen this side of the Sagamore, as a carnival/ meet combination reigned supreme. Like cotton candy smeared on your cheeks, it was impossible to walk out of this fair without a smile on your face. While the 5K track is blazing fast, the efforts put up in all races were impressive.
In the large schools race, it was the #7 Rockets of Needham providing the red glare, as Cara O'Connell's squad simply dominated from jump street. Once Newton South freshman Rebecca Grusby crossed the line in 18:22, a dominant performance from the young star from start to finish, and Falmouth's hometown hero Lauren O'Neil followed in 18:39, it was truly the Needham show. Freshman Margie Cullen took 3rd in 18:47, just ahead of teammate Caroline Turner in 5th (18:57). As if having one freshman in the top 15 wasn't enough, Julianna Donovan (11th; 19:20) and Sarah Armstrong (12th; 19:20) came in right behind, and sophomore Katie Horton closed out the win in 19th, running 19:54 herself. Needham (47 points) ran away with the trophy, despite ridiculous efforts from #12 Newton South, #11 Notre Dame (Hingham), and #13 Weymouth, who put on a nice battle for 2nd. That battle went to Steve McChesney's Lions, as Grusby was joined in the top 10 by Lucrecia Aguilar (4th; 18:55) and Anna Rhatigan (10th; 19:18). Notre Dame secured 3rd, thanks to a total team effort, with Taylor Kennedy (8th; 19:18), Liz Constantino (14th; 19:46), Mollie O'Leary (20th; 19:55), and Shauna Owen (21st; 19:56) all breaking 20:00. Weymouth put four under 20:00 as well, as Ashley Betts (6th; 19:03) led the pack, but with a strong finish from Molly Barker (17th; 19:53), Morgan Fitzgibbon (18th; 19:54), and freshman Kacie Higgins (22nd; 19:57). #21 Franklin got nice finishes from Caroline Knous and Lauren Hagen to round out the top 5.
The small schools race was somehow even better, as watching Hingham's Julie McConville traverse the track in 17:30 was part mind-blowing and part awe-inspiring. There were 8 other runners under 19:00, but McConville simply torched the field, making one of the best chase packs ever look, frankly, distant. As expected, #3 Bishop Feehan and #5 Weston put up a fight for the ages, with the score cards needed to determine a winner. Bob L'Homme's Feehan squad pulled out a narrow 68-77 win over John Monz's Weston Wildcats, as both teams just levied massive depth on the field. Feehan added all five top finishes in the JV race to flex some more muscle, but that would serve only as an appetizer. Abbey McNulty (4th; 18:22) led the way for the Shamrocks, just ahead of classmates and teammates Brynna Harum (10th; 19:01) and Kate Svensen (12th; 19:04). Weston countered with Abigail Pohl (9th; 18:59) and Zoe Snow (11th; 19:04). It was as if these teams were instructed to hunt one another down, something they will be doing on a certain mountain a month or so from now. Surprising Tyngsborough rode a huge performance from Kerri Keohane (2nd; 18:06) and a bevy of middle schoolers to a 3rd place finish. Jaylan Fraser-Mines (8th; 18:46) was most impressive from that group. Hingham proved to be much more than simply Julie McConville, as teammate Julia Noble (13th; 19:05) helped them to a 4th place finish. The two-headed monster of Shelby Aarden (5th; 18:34) and Melissa Lodge (7th; 18:44) led Hopkinton to 5th overall. Rounding out the individual top 10 were Narragansett's Renee Capps (3rd; 18:18) and Archbishop Williams' Sarah Saccoach (6th; 18:43).
Reebok Manhattan Invitational
If for no other reason, heading down to the Bronx's Van Cortland Park for the running of the Manhattan Invitational is worth the site of this national XC treasure and its 4000 meter version. #6 Lincoln-Sudbury led the way with a win in the Varsity F race, but they were joined in the top 5 of varsity races by #15 Chelmsford (3rd in D) and #9 Lowell (5th in C), as well as Westford Academy in 9th in the B race. L-S's win came thanks to a formula of having a front-runner in sophomore Sydney Clary (7th; 15:28), and then a streaming pack within 20 seconds of each other. Fellow sophomore Morgane Butler (15th; 15:44), and seniors Katie LaScaleia (16th; 15:46), Daniela Hargus (24th; 16:03), and Sam Cook (25th; 16:03) got it done the Henry Phelan way- as a team. Seniors Emily Ruggiero (36th; 16:33) and Tia Caldwell (41st; 16:45) led the way for Westford, who took 9th in the race of 22 teams. Chelmsford had a stellar performance from Alli Wood (11th; 15:38) to lead them to 3rd in their heat, while junior classmates Meghan Duffy (22nd; 16:03) and Casey Taylor (29th; 16:13)continue to put together surprise after surprise for the Lions on the young season. Lowell, a team whose youth makes it an enigma, took yet another impressive step forward, with senior Bryanna Allison (4th; 15:25) leading the way, the fastest Mass. runner on the day. Following her was a trio of Richards, with junior Marissa (22nd; 16:02), and freshmen Kaley (25th; 16:07) and Alexandra (32nd; 16:20) rounding out Lowell's top 4.
12th Quabbin Invitational
At Quabbin Regional in Barre, MA, a dual meet broke out during the 12th running of the Quabbin Invitational, the distaff answer to Wachusett's invite on the same weekend. #16 Nashoba and #25 Wachusett battled it out on the 2.92 mile course, with Nashoba and freshman Rylee Gillen each coming out on top. Gillen put on a show, dominating the course in 18:16, 13 seconds over Wachusett's Colleen Sands, who took the runner up prize in 18:29. With the exception of two home-team Quabbin runners, Steffany Halfrey (3rd; 18:51) and Miriam Wood (11th; 19:53) and Algonquin's Megan Walsh (6th; 19:20), it truly was a dual meet between the two Central Mass. powers. Nashoba'sKara McCormack (4th; 19:11), Grace Dempsey (7th; 19:23), Natalie Bettez (8th; 19:23), and Kelsey Horowitz (9th; 19:25) packed in well to secure the team title, while freshman Kate Gobi (5th; 19:19) and Amy Collins (10th; 19:35) secured top-10 finishes to keep the Mountaineers in 2nd.
The division II race went to Notre Dame Academy, thanks to a 2-3 finish from juniors Jane Clark (18:55) and Emily Knox (19:39). It was St. Peter Marian 8th grader Gianna Mastromatteo, however, who took the individual crown, covering the course in 18:26.
Boys Weekend Recap
MSTCA Twilight Invitational
In Falmouth on Saturday, the boys' races were as fun to watch as the girls'. In the DII race, Bishop Feehan's controversial request to move up a division left a void on the podium, and #12 Sandwich nearly had its hardware stolen by Martha's Vineyard. Each team was carried by 5 top-20 finishes, but Sandwich's James Wegman (5th; 16:09) put his team over the top with a breakthrough performance. Henry Daniels-Koch (10th; 16:39) and Jake Barry (12th; 16:41) were in next for the Raiders, just a shade behind the Vinyearders' Jeremy Alley-Tarter (7th; 16:16) and Michael Schroeder (9th; 16:26). When the dust settled, Sandwich secured the win 49-53. Weston's Matt Herzig(15:48) outdueled Melrose's Christian Gentile (15:56) and Old Rochester's Mike Wyman (15:57) for the win with a late surge in the individual race.
In the DI race, any controversy aside, #3 Bishop Feehan proved it belongs with any field it races against. Bob L'Homme's Shamrocks just simply put a hurting on its future large schools brethren, placing four in the top 13, something once resigned only to smaller divisions. Mike Hanley (3rd; 15:53) and Evan Grandfield (4th; 16:02) led the way around the horse paths, looking like a couple of Stallions pulling some Shamrocks in their wake. Once Henry Dodge (8th; 16:16) and Alex Conway (13th; 16:21) crossed through the turnstiles, Feehan was en route to a route, scoring 53 points to Brookline's 135. Aaron Klein led Mike Glennon's #9 Warriors to that runner-up finish, taking 5th in 16:11 himself. The Bay State League flavor wasn't done yet, as Needham's Adrian Amaya (6th; 16:12) and Tyler Hagen (10th; 16:19) brought the team and Coach Van Cott yet another in a season featuring an embarrassment of co-gendered riches to this point.
The individual DI race had its own Bay State League flair, as Nolan Parlsey (15:49) used his glow stick headband to light the way through a torrential kick, beating King Philip junior Owen Gonser (15:50), and spoiling what had been an undefeated season to this point. Parsley, an unassuming character who puts his head down and does everything that could be expected each day, just put his name on a short list of runners who can put pressure on Messer'sGreen and Bennie come Mountain climbing season.
Reebok Manhattan Invitational
Manhattan also served as host to several area boys teams as well. The fastest individual Mass. time on the day came out of the Varsity D race by Brian Amaral, who made his mark at the MSTCA Frank Kelley Invitational two weeks ago. Amaral was 3rd in his race in 13:00, making him appear to be a true contender for an All State title, and yes, I've heard of Colin Bennie and Jon Green. #1 Lowell ended up a surprising 4th in the F race, led by Pat Coppinger(13:05; 8th) and Mike "Killer" Kalenoski (14th; 13:09), Running individually in that race was Norwell's Owen Wiggins (12th; 13:07), who appears to be the DVI East main event in November.
#11 St. John's Prep was 3rd in the Varsity A race, thanks to Liam Dow's 13:14 time, good enough for 12th, and a solid pack behind him, led by Tim Loehner (26th; 13:40) and Colin Monahan (31st; 13:43). #10 Chelmsford and #14 Lincoln-Sudbury got to duke it out Mass style in the Varsity C Race, with the Lions coming out on top in 2nd, just ahead of the Warriors in 4th. Sophomore Quinn Cooney (5th; 13:15) was tops for Chelmsford, while L-S was led by Eli Hoenig (7th; 13:20).
55th Wachusett Invitational
At Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, on a Saturday in each October since the Korean War ended, boys teams have battled in the Wachusett Invitational. A terrific 37-39 battle between #4 St. John's of Shrewsbury and #6 Wachusett was everything it was billed to be. Although Wachusett's Colin Bennie got the win and the meet record, 15:50, over the 5K course, Jonathon Green's 2nd place finish was enough to help his team secure the narrowest of wins. Bennie found a way to pull away in the latter stages, and with 5 finishers in the top 13, it looked the Mountaineers had enough for the victory. Tim Fitzgerald (8th; 17:03), Brian Cusack (10th; 17:15), Cole Burgess (11th; 17:16), and Sean Sampson (13th; 17:20) all packed in nicely behind Bennie, but St. John's just had a little bit too much. With Alex Crowley (3rd; 16:28) making up the major difference between the teams, Kyle Johnson (9th; 17:05), Connor Murphy (12th; 17:19), and Alex Couture (14th; 17:32) won the key battles and stayed close enough to Wachusett. Somebody, make it November already!
In the Division II race, Nashoba rode four top-5 finishes to 22 points and the win. Forrest Hangen (16:58) and Mark Puleo (17:11) made it look easy up front. In the division III race, #25 Hopedale was led by runner-up Paul Maurais(16:54), who was narrowly outdueled by Bromfield sophomore Price Day (16:53) for the win. The pack of Matt Doran (5th; 17:11), Yaroslav Borodenko (6th; 17:22), and Anthony Tandy (7th; 17:49) secured an easy win for Hopedale in the end.
A busy weekend, some of the best racing environments on the planet, and a sign of things to come. Who can beat that? We'll try next weekend when the state watches its teams head West to Northfield and South to Goddard Park.
Bob McIntyre Twilight Invitational Meet Page
Bob McIntyre Twilight Invitational Photo Page
Bob McIntyre Twilight Invitational 2011 Rewind Page
Bob McIntyre Twilight Milesplit Photo Booth Video Slideshow
Bob McIntyre Twilight Milesplit Photo Booth
Bob McIntyre Twilight Race Video's coming soon