Boys Division I
The Buffalo Bills made 4 straight Super Bowls in the 1990's, meaning, to even the casual NFL observer, that they won four straight AFC titles. But, when quarterback Jim Kelly or coach Marv Levy are asked about those years, the AFC titles are never mentioned, giving way to talk of what never happened, a Super Bowl victory. Now, Phil Maia and Scott Ouellet, the MA #1 Lowell Red Raiders coaching tandem that took the runner up trophy the past two years, as well as a 4th place in 2009 with a team good enough to win, have avoided the fate of those Bills. They will forever remember the first All State title, one that everyone seemed to know was coming, but Ouellet and Maia knew better than to take for granted.
When #5 Westfield's Tim Dostie (5th; 16:11), Blake Croteau (9th; 16:23), and Matt Jacobson (10th; 16:24) all came across the line in the top 10, Lowell had the lost the mythical dual meet, but were about to win the war. Pat Coppinger (13th; 16:30) was the first Raider to stop the bleeding, and the floodgates simply opened up, with Mike "KillA" Kalenoski (22nd, 16:42) and Nick McArdle (23rd; 16:43), followed by Johnny Abraham (28th; 16:49) and Randy Nong (35th; 16:57) all taking top 30 team scores and all breaking 17:00 on the treacherous 5K course in the process. McArdle's run was particularly impressive, given his long absence from racing due to a leg injury suffered at Manhattan in early October. On paper, they didn't need his points, since Andrew Whitney was close enough to Nong to provide insurance, but the lift he gave his team must have gone a long way toward building confidence that they could get it done. It was a 96-149 win over Westfield in the end, with #10 Shrewsbury in a surprising 3rd place, scoring just 175 points. #11 St. John's Prep used a terrific pack to take 4th (188), despite not having a top-30 finisher, and #13 Wachusett (201) ended up in 5th.
The individual race was a bit less competitive, although no less fun to watch. From the gun, it was obvious that Jonathon Green of St. John's (S) was a man on a mission, simply separating form a deep field, that included Mike O'Donnell of Methuen (15:41) and Colin Bennie of Wachusett (15:42), each of whom bested the old course record behind Green. But Green's 15:29 jaunt might be one for the ages, and in a sport that is growing in this state and across the country, could hold steady for decades to come. Green has separated himself as the obvious best runner in this state, but where he could go from here, whether Portland or San Diego are in his sights, remains to be seen. Watching his stride, his pedigree, and his mentality, h is a national championship candidate, that is of course, if he stays clear of Edward Cheserek.
Nat Adams of Lexington took 4th (16:07), staying ahead of a tight pack just a few seconds behind him, featuring the Westfield trio, Weymouth's Nolan Parsley (6th; 16:15), and Daniel MacDonald-Meteer (7th; 16:16) on Arlington. Sam Stubbs (11th; 16:29) of Cambridge was the lowest scoring freshman in the DI race in decades, with only Chris Barnicle (13th) coming close in 2001. Turns out, Barnicle did just fine for himself, winning his share of state titles along the way, and eventually running 8:50 for 2 miles, so if Stubbs can stay on that trajectory, you'll be hearing his name some more.
Boys Division II
If the monkey was taken off Lowell's back, a gorilla was taken off Pembroke's, because even though they won their 3rd All State title in the past four years, there was always somewhat of a pall hanging over the 2011 season. MA #2 Pembroke knocked #3 Bishop Feehan off at DIV's, and two weeks later took 2nd at NXNNE to make its 2nd straight trip to Oregon, but the loss at All States in between haunted the boys, who felt they did not do enough to withstand the charge the Shamrocks put on during that race. There was payback on the minds of the Titans, and with Bishop Feehan returning an even better team than 2011's version, this rematch was going to be nothing short of epic.
For the record, Feehan did not make a single misstep on the Mountain, as all five of their scorers ran smart races, posted great times, and should be holding their heads up high. But Pembroke struck first, with its two-headed monster of Christian Stafford and John Valeri going 4th-5th, each in 16:20, neither ever really concerned about who's 1 and who's 1A. Mike Hanley of Feehan (8thl 16:38) could only stop the bleeding briefly, as Pat Cunningham (11th; 16:42) rebounded from an off day at DIV's to run just 6 seconds slower on the mountain. Evan Grandfield (13th; 16:46) kept Feehan in the hunt, but like they have done all year, the Titans brought their 4th, Billy Stafford (16th; 16:56) in before many teams #2's (and some tea's top guys). Henry Dodge, Alex Conway, and Connor Dean all slid into the top-35, but Lucas Tocher (35th; 17:18) did too, and the Pembroke work done early on paid off. A 46-67 win was in store, and memories of the failed 2011 bid for a three-peat have turned to hopes of a renewed dynasty on Learning Lane in Pembroke.
#13 Newburyport, thanks to Nick Carleo's 7th place finish (16:28) was able to sneak by #18 Sandwich for 3rd, 161-162, and surprising Coyle & Cassidy taking 5th place. The individual race between Lenox's Scotty Carpenter (15:55) and Burlington's Paul Hogan (16:03) was one to watch, although Carpenter patiently built his lead around the 2 mile marker and opened the gap on the rolling hills of the final mile. Matt Herzig (16:11) of Weston took 3rd, just ahead of the Pembroke duo. A fun race to watch happened in the next pack, as Peter Hale (6th; 16:26) of Swampscott was able to outmaneuver Carleo in the final meters, and Norwell's Owen Wiggins (8th; 16:37) followed up his win from last week in DVI with a terrific goodbye present to Coach Martin. Melrose's Christisan Gentile (10th; 16:41) rounded out the top 10 individuals.
Girls Division I
The sign of a great All State meet is that, when the race is done and the results have yet to be posted, nobody knows who won. Unless you brought an abacus to Northfield, you couldn't make here or there out of the DI girls race. Some were proclaiming #3 Lincoln-Sudbury had pulled it out. Others said #5 Needham's top 4 were packed in too tightly to lose. Others pointed out that #4 Whitman-Hanson had five in way before anyone else, and then there were those who insisted that #8 Amherst had stayed under the radar just long enough to sneak out the win. Only 18 points separated those four teams, but in the end, they were all chasing MA #6 Peabody, just as they were all chasing Peabody's ace Catarina Rocha, who became the first individual and team All State Champion out of DI since Andrea Keklak in 2009, the last time we were at the Mountain.
Rocha's race was a thing of beauty to watch, I'm sure, but I was too busy watching Peabody's next three runners. Running 18:06 and flirting with Shalane Falanagan's course record, ROcha understood that she was simply a low score, the lowest possible, giving her team the bes chance to win. Heather MacLean (16th; 19:47) and Lauren Barrett (17th; 19:51) did everything they could be asked to do, with Barrett rebounding majorly from her EMass race in the process. But if I were building a statue at the Peabody High track this week, it would be of Sam Allen (49th; 20:24). Allen was on fire early in the season, running 19:08 at Frank Kelley and looking every bit like the 2 in the 1-2 punch Rocha would lead. But she dealt with what many runners deal with- adversity. She ran a tough race at her conference meet and followed it up with a shocking 23:20 performance at DI's. Most didn't know Peabody would be in this position, because most didn't have Allen on their scouting reports. But Coach Joe Rocha knew better. He never stopped telling her that she would win them a state championship. And she did. It's the stuff dreams are made of, and Sam Allen deserves as much credit as anyone for believing in herself and bringing her team to glory.
Lincoln-Sudbury (117) edged Needham (118) for the runner-up trophy, while Whitman-Hanson (124) took 4th, and Amherst (135) used their unique knowledge of the course for 5th. 27 points is the closest 1-5 spread the DI girls race has ever seen, and is simply a sign of things to come. These teams bring back plenty, as do Lowell, Lexington, Newton North, Newton South, and others. 2013 could see a team win DI's with 150 points, it'll be THAT deep.
After the Rocha show was over, there were some compelling races to watch. Acton-Boxborough's Christine Davis (18:51) outlasted Lowell's Bryanna Allison (18:56) for 2nd place, and Falmouth's Lauren O'Neill (4th; 19:03) survived a blistering early pace to hang on to 4t. Amherst's Mel Devoney (6th; 19:25) kept her team in the hunt, as did Lincoln-Sudbury sophomore Sydney Clary (9th; 19:28). Shepherd Hill's Stella Worters (10th; 19:35) rounded out the top 10.
For me, the number that stood out the most to me was 9, though. With 4th 9th graders in the top-12, as well as 11 in the top-50 this year's freshman class is by far the best we've ever seen. Newton South's Rebecca Grusby (5th; 19:07), Belmont's Leah Brams (7th; 19:26), Needham's Margie Cullen (8th; 19:26), and Nashoba's Rylee Gillen (12th; 19:40) all had seasons that made their All State success easy to comprehend, but when you consider what the mountain requires- patience, fearlessness, and toughness, it's clear that these girls ran far beyond their years. Perhaps, being young and ignorant of what is coming is the key to racing well at this beautiful beast after all.
Girls Division II
There were a few brief moments when I was about to declare MA #9 Tyngsborough the winner in the DII girls race. They appeared to have slayed a dragon in #1 Bishop Feehan, pulling off the biggest upset of the day in the process. But, with a 73-90 win secured, Feehan, in their final DII appearance perhaps ever, staved off a young, hungry Tyngsborough squad, keeping its streak alive at four straight All State titles. Feehan also got the individual title out of Abbey McNulty (18:20) who put on a major surge over the final 400 meters to defeat Bedford's Erin Dietz (18:31). Kerri Keohane (18:56) and Tyngsborough teammate Jaylan Fraser-Mines (19:10) took the next two spots, and until Feehan's Brynna Harum (13th; 19:39), Jackie Cutillo (25th; 20:06), and Kate Svensen (36th; 20:16) came across, the Shamrocks had to be nervous. That's because a trio of 7th graders (yes, 7th graders) were in tow for Tyngsborough, with Jessica Gendreau (39th; 20:18), Lexi Casey (48th; 20:33), and Makenna Hunt (49th; 20:34) all taking top-50 spots. Adrienne Santoro (45th; 20:32) was able to break up that group, and Feehan's job was done.
#12 Weston (133) was 3rd, ahead of #11 Hamilton-Wenham (153), and #23 Ursuline (218), who took 5th. Other individual performances of note included Frontier's Natalie Mako (5th; 19:11), Sutton's Jessie Cardin (6th; 19:15), Ipswich's Sarah Kieran (7th; 19:20), Dennis-Yarmouth's Jordan O'Dea (8th; 19:25), Hopkinton's Shelbby Aarden (9th; 19:27), and Narragansett's Renee Capps (10th; 19:29), a group that rounded out the top 10 without having a major impact on the team scoring.
NORTHFIELD TOP 100 TIMES (UPDATE PENDING)
Boys Division I