THE MINUTEMEN PLOW THROUGH THE SNOW AT ALL-STATES
Meet Information
MIAA Division 1 All-State Championships
November 18, 2018
Stanley Park - Westfield, MA
RESULTS
WESTFIELD, MA - Sunday The Minutemen traveled out to Westfield to race at Stanley Park for the MIAA Division 1 All-State Championship. After the storm earlier this week, the course was a mix of over a half foot of snow, ice and mud which made the normally pedestrian 5k course the most difficult terrain The Minutemen have raced on all season. Both teams came in as the reigning Division 1 East Champs, and they each held their own against the best that Massachusetts had to offer. The boys had their best finish in school history by placing third behind eventual Champion Concord-Carlisle, and runner-up Wellesley. The girls battled through the brutal conditions to finish sixth, with Natick taking home the crown.
The boys race was highlighted by Arlington All-American senior Ryan Oosting who, after dominating distance racing in Massachusetts for the last three years, finally grabbed the individual Cross Country state title that had eluded him the previous two years. Oosting won in a time of 15:52.75. The Minutemen were once again led by star sophomore Nick Porter. After a rough start trudging through the deep snow, Porter was able to work his way up through the pack during the ice and mud covered woods loop to place 11th overall in a time of 16:42.70. Senior captain Eli Gappelberg had a strong finish in his own right, he covered the brutal terrain in 16:52.78 and finished 17th overall. After the top two, it was a trio of juniors who rounded out the top five for The Minutemen. Matt McAlarney crossed the line in 17:23.76, finishing 35th in the process. In the most important race of the year, when his team needed him the most Micah Benson came back to form running a time of 17:28.00 and placing 41st. Selvin Backert was the all important fifth runner, crossing the line in 17:32.41 and finishing 48th. In addition to the top five, senior captain Jeb Jacob finished 60th in 17:41.90 and junior Adam Bernstein was 65th in 17:45.33.
Final Boys Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Concord-Carlisle - 73
2. Wellesley - 80
3. Lexington - 100
4. Arlington - 169
5. Mansfield - 172
6. Needham - 194
7. B.C. High - 225
8. Brookline - 236
9. St. John's Prep - 264
10. Wakefield - 292
On the girls side, it was Natick's superstar Grace Connolly who completed the three-peat by winning her third All-State crown in a row. Connolly took the race by over a minute in 18:14.28. For The Minutemen, junior Pauline Steines had her best race of the season, leading the team by placing 14th in a time of 20:06.78. Senior captain Kesinia Sortor completed her LHS Cross Country career in fine fashion. Sortor ran 20:21.56, finishing 21st in the process. Junior Danna Ofek (21:17.04) and sophomore Anna Nelson (21:18.34) finished 55th and 56th respectively. After a tough race last week at Divisionals, sophomore Lina Jafaar found her form again by grabbing the all important fifth position for The Minutemen. Her time of 21:25.12 placed her 63rd overall. Along with the top five, freshman Clara Fu finished 69th in 21:30.67 and sophomore Zoe Gu was 103rd in 22:05.71.
Final Girls Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Natick - 113
2. Concord-Carlisle - 121
3. Billerica - 132
4. Amherst-Pelham - 153
5. Wellesley - 161
6. Lexington - 169
7. Hopkinton - 251
8. Shepherd Hill - 269
9. Walpole - 274
10. Milton - 278
All-States signaled the end of what was a very successful 2018 season for Coach Trachsel's girls. After losing two of the top-five runners who helped lead The Minutemen to an 11th place finish at the 2017 All-State Championships, there was not any poll that had the 2018 squad making any noise this season. Despite the lack of respect, this year's group brought it every day they showed up at practice and found another level on race day. Along the way, The Minutemen were only defeated by a Massachusetts team once before All-States, and all of their top runners were being rested at that meet. Their top trio was the first Massachusetts team across the line at Clipper Relays. They finished a close second at Ocean State to a team from New York who featured the nation's top runner. After dominating at historic Franklin Park in the Catholic Memorial Invite, they went on to win the Middlesex League regular season crown and the League Meet Championship. Finally, The Minutemen continued their even year dominance at Divisionals by winning the Division 1 East title for the third time in five years. The one thing that polls failed to take into account when they reviewed this year's squad was each girl was hard wired with a level of grit and toughness that drove them to fantastic heights all season long.
Up Next
While the girls' season is complete, the boys will continue to carry the torch for The Minutemen. This Saturday they head to Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, New York to compete at Nike Cross Regionals Northeast. The Minutemen will race against the best the northeast has to offer with a trip to Nike Cross Nationals on the line. The Open race is set to go off at 10:30am, while the gun for the Championship race goes off promptly at 1:10pm.
MIAA Division 1 All-State Championships
November 18, 2018
Stanley Park - Westfield, MA
RESULTS
WESTFIELD, MA - Sunday The Minutemen traveled out to Westfield to race at Stanley Park for the MIAA Division 1 All-State Championship. After the storm earlier this week, the course was a mix of over a half foot of snow, ice and mud which made the normally pedestrian 5k course the most difficult terrain The Minutemen have raced on all season. Both teams came in as the reigning Division 1 East Champs, and they each held their own against the best that Massachusetts had to offer. The boys had their best finish in school history by placing third behind eventual Champion Concord-Carlisle, and runner-up Wellesley. The girls battled through the brutal conditions to finish sixth, with Natick taking home the crown.
The boys race was highlighted by Arlington All-American senior Ryan Oosting who, after dominating distance racing in Massachusetts for the last three years, finally grabbed the individual Cross Country state title that had eluded him the previous two years. Oosting won in a time of 15:52.75. The Minutemen were once again led by star sophomore Nick Porter. After a rough start trudging through the deep snow, Porter was able to work his way up through the pack during the ice and mud covered woods loop to place 11th overall in a time of 16:42.70. Senior captain Eli Gappelberg had a strong finish in his own right, he covered the brutal terrain in 16:52.78 and finished 17th overall. After the top two, it was a trio of juniors who rounded out the top five for The Minutemen. Matt McAlarney crossed the line in 17:23.76, finishing 35th in the process. In the most important race of the year, when his team needed him the most Micah Benson came back to form running a time of 17:28.00 and placing 41st. Selvin Backert was the all important fifth runner, crossing the line in 17:32.41 and finishing 48th. In addition to the top five, senior captain Jeb Jacob finished 60th in 17:41.90 and junior Adam Bernstein was 65th in 17:45.33.
Final Boys Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Concord-Carlisle - 73
2. Wellesley - 80
3. Lexington - 100
4. Arlington - 169
5. Mansfield - 172
6. Needham - 194
7. B.C. High - 225
8. Brookline - 236
9. St. John's Prep - 264
10. Wakefield - 292
On the girls side, it was Natick's superstar Grace Connolly who completed the three-peat by winning her third All-State crown in a row. Connolly took the race by over a minute in 18:14.28. For The Minutemen, junior Pauline Steines had her best race of the season, leading the team by placing 14th in a time of 20:06.78. Senior captain Kesinia Sortor completed her LHS Cross Country career in fine fashion. Sortor ran 20:21.56, finishing 21st in the process. Junior Danna Ofek (21:17.04) and sophomore Anna Nelson (21:18.34) finished 55th and 56th respectively. After a tough race last week at Divisionals, sophomore Lina Jafaar found her form again by grabbing the all important fifth position for The Minutemen. Her time of 21:25.12 placed her 63rd overall. Along with the top five, freshman Clara Fu finished 69th in 21:30.67 and sophomore Zoe Gu was 103rd in 22:05.71.
Final Girls Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Natick - 113
2. Concord-Carlisle - 121
3. Billerica - 132
4. Amherst-Pelham - 153
5. Wellesley - 161
6. Lexington - 169
7. Hopkinton - 251
8. Shepherd Hill - 269
9. Walpole - 274
10. Milton - 278
All-States signaled the end of what was a very successful 2018 season for Coach Trachsel's girls. After losing two of the top-five runners who helped lead The Minutemen to an 11th place finish at the 2017 All-State Championships, there was not any poll that had the 2018 squad making any noise this season. Despite the lack of respect, this year's group brought it every day they showed up at practice and found another level on race day. Along the way, The Minutemen were only defeated by a Massachusetts team once before All-States, and all of their top runners were being rested at that meet. Their top trio was the first Massachusetts team across the line at Clipper Relays. They finished a close second at Ocean State to a team from New York who featured the nation's top runner. After dominating at historic Franklin Park in the Catholic Memorial Invite, they went on to win the Middlesex League regular season crown and the League Meet Championship. Finally, The Minutemen continued their even year dominance at Divisionals by winning the Division 1 East title for the third time in five years. The one thing that polls failed to take into account when they reviewed this year's squad was each girl was hard wired with a level of grit and toughness that drove them to fantastic heights all season long.
Up Next
While the girls' season is complete, the boys will continue to carry the torch for The Minutemen. This Saturday they head to Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, New York to compete at Nike Cross Regionals Northeast. The Minutemen will race against the best the northeast has to offer with a trip to Nike Cross Nationals on the line. The Open race is set to go off at 10:30am, while the gun for the Championship race goes off promptly at 1:10pm.