A RUN FOR THE AGES BY THE MINUTEMEN
Meet Information
MIAA Division 1 Eastern Massachusetts Championships
November 10, 2018
Wrentham Developmental Park - Wrentham, MA
BOYS RESULTS
GIRLS RESULTS
WRENTHAM, MA - Saturday afternoon on the windswept 5k course in the fields of Wrentham, the Boys and Girls accomplished something that no Lexington High School Cross Country teams had ever done before; both took home an MIAA title. For the Girls it is becoming a bit of a habit, this being their third in the last five years (having previously taken home the crown in 2014 and 2016). On the other side, the Boys had not won this championship in 30 years dating back to 1988.
In the Boys race it was the one-two punch of sophomore Nick Porter and senior captain Eli Gappelberg who lead the way for The Minutemen. Running from the front for the majority of the race, the two athletes controlled the tempo and took on a driving wind in the process. Just after the two-mile mark, Brookline Senior Lucas Aramburu broke away from The Minutemen's top runners. He would go on to gap the field entirely winning the race in a time of 15:42.81. Porter ended up finishing third in a time of 15:58.36, while Gappelberg finished fifth in a time of 16:05.71.
While Porter and Gappelberg set the tone for The Minutemen it was the tight knit pack of their three through seven runners that sealed the victory. Juniors Selvin Backert (16:41.76), Matt McAlarney (16:49.31), Adam Bernstein (16:49.64), Micah Benson (16:54.46), and senior captain Jeb Jacob (16:59.84) spent the majority of the race with no more than a couple of seconds between them. Backert, McAlarney, and Bernstein did eventually break from the group to finish 19th, 27th and 29th respectively but each of them credited the team's success to their teammates willingness to take turns breaking the wind and making sure that an brisk pace was maintained by the group. When the dusted had settled the Boys ended up cruising to victory. The Minutemen ran an average time of 16:28.96 and took the title over second place Boston College High School by over 40 points.
Final Boys Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Lexington - 83
2. B.C. High - 124
3. St. John's Prep - 136
4. Needham - 139
5. Brookline - 154
6. Franklin - 166
7. Newton South - 186
8. Lowell - 211
9. Acton-Boxborough - 234
10. Newton North - 277
Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, the Girls put their own stamp on the Division 1 East field by placing each of their top five runners in the top 20. As was the case in the Boys race, a runner from Brookline took the title. This time it was sophomore Vivian McMahon running a time of 18:48.53. Further back, star junior Danna Ofek was running last in a pack of six girls, but with about 200 meters to go she saw and opening and burst through, charging to the line in a time of 19:32.23 and placing fifth in the process. Senior captain Kesinia Sortor, who last year completed most of this race after losing her shoe, was able to out kick a competitor from Brockton to finish inside the top ten; placing ninth in a time of 19:42.72.
Junior Pauline Steines had a strong showing of her own, finishing in 19:55.30 and coming in 13th place in the process. Sophomore Anna Nelson crossed the line in 20:16.75, which was good enough for 18th place overall. For the first time in her young career, freshman Clara Fu grabbed the all important fifth spot for The Minutmen. Her time of 20:20.93 was a personal best and placed her 20th overall (second among freshmen), which sealed the victory for The Minutemen. In addition to the top five, sophomores Zoe Gu (20:47.15) and Lina Jafaar (20:53.16) battled through the elements and finished 40th and 43rd respectively. With an average time of 19:57.59, over ten seconds faster than second place Boston Latin, The Minutemen once again were able to cruise to victory.
Final Girls Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Lexington - 63
2. Boston Latin - 93
3. Needham - 99
4. Brookline - 102
5. Newton North - 133
6. Lowell - 184
7. Brockton - 212
8. Peabody - 242
9. Acton-Boxborough - 288
10. Cambridge Rindge & Latin - 302
Up Next
After winning the Division 1 Eastern Massachusetts titles and qualifying for the All-State Championships in the process, The Minutemen were thrown a last minute curveball. The All-State Championship course has been moved from Saturday the 17th at Northfield Mountain, and now will be competed on Sunday the 18th at Stanley Park in Westfield. Despite the changed date and location the Boys race will still go off at 11:00am, while the Girls are slated to start at 12:20pm.
MIAA Division 1 Eastern Massachusetts Championships
November 10, 2018
Wrentham Developmental Park - Wrentham, MA
BOYS RESULTS
GIRLS RESULTS
WRENTHAM, MA - Saturday afternoon on the windswept 5k course in the fields of Wrentham, the Boys and Girls accomplished something that no Lexington High School Cross Country teams had ever done before; both took home an MIAA title. For the Girls it is becoming a bit of a habit, this being their third in the last five years (having previously taken home the crown in 2014 and 2016). On the other side, the Boys had not won this championship in 30 years dating back to 1988.
In the Boys race it was the one-two punch of sophomore Nick Porter and senior captain Eli Gappelberg who lead the way for The Minutemen. Running from the front for the majority of the race, the two athletes controlled the tempo and took on a driving wind in the process. Just after the two-mile mark, Brookline Senior Lucas Aramburu broke away from The Minutemen's top runners. He would go on to gap the field entirely winning the race in a time of 15:42.81. Porter ended up finishing third in a time of 15:58.36, while Gappelberg finished fifth in a time of 16:05.71.
While Porter and Gappelberg set the tone for The Minutemen it was the tight knit pack of their three through seven runners that sealed the victory. Juniors Selvin Backert (16:41.76), Matt McAlarney (16:49.31), Adam Bernstein (16:49.64), Micah Benson (16:54.46), and senior captain Jeb Jacob (16:59.84) spent the majority of the race with no more than a couple of seconds between them. Backert, McAlarney, and Bernstein did eventually break from the group to finish 19th, 27th and 29th respectively but each of them credited the team's success to their teammates willingness to take turns breaking the wind and making sure that an brisk pace was maintained by the group. When the dusted had settled the Boys ended up cruising to victory. The Minutemen ran an average time of 16:28.96 and took the title over second place Boston College High School by over 40 points.
Final Boys Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Lexington - 83
2. B.C. High - 124
3. St. John's Prep - 136
4. Needham - 139
5. Brookline - 154
6. Franklin - 166
7. Newton South - 186
8. Lowell - 211
9. Acton-Boxborough - 234
10. Newton North - 277
Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, the Girls put their own stamp on the Division 1 East field by placing each of their top five runners in the top 20. As was the case in the Boys race, a runner from Brookline took the title. This time it was sophomore Vivian McMahon running a time of 18:48.53. Further back, star junior Danna Ofek was running last in a pack of six girls, but with about 200 meters to go she saw and opening and burst through, charging to the line in a time of 19:32.23 and placing fifth in the process. Senior captain Kesinia Sortor, who last year completed most of this race after losing her shoe, was able to out kick a competitor from Brockton to finish inside the top ten; placing ninth in a time of 19:42.72.
Junior Pauline Steines had a strong showing of her own, finishing in 19:55.30 and coming in 13th place in the process. Sophomore Anna Nelson crossed the line in 20:16.75, which was good enough for 18th place overall. For the first time in her young career, freshman Clara Fu grabbed the all important fifth spot for The Minutmen. Her time of 20:20.93 was a personal best and placed her 20th overall (second among freshmen), which sealed the victory for The Minutemen. In addition to the top five, sophomores Zoe Gu (20:47.15) and Lina Jafaar (20:53.16) battled through the elements and finished 40th and 43rd respectively. With an average time of 19:57.59, over ten seconds faster than second place Boston Latin, The Minutemen once again were able to cruise to victory.
Final Girls Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Lexington - 63
2. Boston Latin - 93
3. Needham - 99
4. Brookline - 102
5. Newton North - 133
6. Lowell - 184
7. Brockton - 212
8. Peabody - 242
9. Acton-Boxborough - 288
10. Cambridge Rindge & Latin - 302
Up Next
After winning the Division 1 Eastern Massachusetts titles and qualifying for the All-State Championships in the process, The Minutemen were thrown a last minute curveball. The All-State Championship course has been moved from Saturday the 17th at Northfield Mountain, and now will be competed on Sunday the 18th at Stanley Park in Westfield. Despite the changed date and location the Boys race will still go off at 11:00am, while the Girls are slated to start at 12:20pm.