PAYSON LEADS THE WAY FOR THE GIRLS, AS LEX XC SAFELY RETURNS DURING COVID
Meet Information
Belmont Dual Meet
October 3, 2020
Hastings Park - Lexington, MA
RESULTS: A-RACE
RESULTS: B-RACE
LEXINGTON, MA - Some said it wouldn't happen, some said it shouldn't happen, but this past Saturday - in two separate meets, and in a half dozen different waves - 37 members of the Lexington High School Girls Cross Country team toed the nearly 90ft wide starting line (for social distancing purposes) to race against Belmont. Before getting into the recap of the race a HUGE shoutout goes to LHS's Athletic Director Naomi Martin for pushing so hard to get the kids out there safely this season. Another big thank you to Coach Rebecca Trachsel, Coach Sarah De Leon, and Coach Emmett O'Brien for organizing practices within the COVID-19 guidelines. But most importantly to the student athletes, who have had to endure a summer of training with no guarantee of an XC season; who even at practice cannot enjoy the full team experience as the team is split into two separate groups that never meet for practice on the same day; who train each day and raced Saturday in masks (not buffs or gaiters); and who's shear love for the sport and desire to train and compete with their teammates is what has made this season possible.
Saturday's meet was the first time in 50 years that The Minutemen were not up at Lincoln Field to begin and end a meet in Lexington. Due to COVID constraints the start and finish of the team's course had to be moved down the road to Hastings Park to accommodate social distancing. The modified course could not have been made possible without the Lexington Police Department and Department of Public Works helping to control traffic on Worthen Road so the student athletes could compete safely. Thank you to both the LPD and DPW. Now without any more ado, please enjoy a socially distanced version of this year's "Runner on the Course."
"Runner on the Course" by captain Izzy Jakimczyk
The Lexington Girls Cross Country team was back in business bright and early Saturday morning which means yours truly is back in business as well. I know you guys missed me! Everyone was excited, and even though no one could see each other’s faces under masks, I can guarantee every single girl was smiling cheek-to-cheek when stepping up to the line to complete the new and "improved" - a debate that has yet to be disputed - home course. The bus ride to the meet was a little different this morning due to the fact that it wasn’t a bus ride at all, as everyone drove separately to a site that was not the meet. Where everyone should park however, was a hot topic the night before the meet as some were convinced Walgreens was the best location. Ultimately, the girls came to the consensus that the High School would have to do until Walgreens would finally agree to sponsor the team. Despite the awkwardness of the new pre-race rituals, everyone managed to make it in one piece and I totally remembered to bring my bib number to the starting line. Soon enough it was time for the race to begin, or should I say the three races?
The first wave of the day took off promptly at 9am EST and was absolutely stacked with sophomore Mirra Payson, junior Julia Lennon-Newell, junior Clara Fu, senior Lina Jafaar, senior Rebecca Dalphine, junior Viviane Dalphine, and junior Casey Weisberg. From where I was standing, about twenty feet away, they looked like they were flying right out of the gate. Next, came wave two, a clear example of Lexington’s depth, which included junior Camelia Atassi, senior Anna Nelson, senior captain Lauren Sterne, sophomore Chloe Pacheco-Bloch, sophomore Jasmine Sun and sophomore Uma Sanker who looked real speedy from the get go as well. Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, wave three consisting of a lineup of studs: sophomore Ashley Taylor, sophomore Serena Ciara, senior captain Aylin Bruce, Dora, freshman Sarah Fu, sophomore Sarah Lane, senior Lorelei Marcell and yours truly.
After the official got to shoot the gun for the third time that day, wave three went out as a pack and stayed in a pack for a really long time. Seriously, that’s like the longest time I’ve been a part of a pack. Things finally started to break up when we reached our first Baskin. It was so nice to see Baskin again, it had been so long and I really missed her and you know who else I missed, Mirra and Clara. They seemed to know how much I missed them because just as I was charging up my first Baskin, they passed me on their second climb. How very sweet of them. Next, came Loring. Thank goodness the coaches were able to keep Loring in the modified course. I seriously don’t know what we would do without Loring, probably PR or something crazy like that!
Anyway, after some post race interviews I was informed of an incident that occurred on Loring that morning. Six members of Belmont’s first wave of girls made a wrong turn and went up Loring twice, thus racing a total of 4.1 miles. Volunteer course director, Evan Eberle who was stationed at the top of Loring saw them crest the hill for a second time and reported the issue to the officials. The result left the race as a "no contest." Despite that notable result, or lack their of, there were plenty other notable events on Loring Saturday. During the JV race I got to witness Campbell Kemp absolutely devour Loring. I’ve never seen someone look so undeterred by that hill, I was in awe. I also got to see the Roy sisters climb one after the other, and hear Galen cheer on her sister Read mid climb which really just made my heart feel all warm and fuzzy. All and all, a very good showing by the Lexington girls. Some notable performances included Mirra (20:53), who led the race from wire-to-wire, a very difficult job, I don’t speak from experience I just know these things. Lauren (21:08) finished with the second fastest overall time and, despite racing from the second wave, was noted to have caught up to some of the girls in the wave that took off before her. Her time just bested Clara's 21:09. Also placing in the top five out of the second wave was Nelson, who came through in a solid 21:38 to land fourth for her team. The Dalphine sisters debuted for The Minutemen with Rebecca placing fifth overall in a time of 21:58, while Vivian was seventh in 22:27. The two made their home country of New Zealand proud with their killer performances, and were only split up by Ashley Taylor (22:14). Not only was Ashley the first runner from the third wave across the finish line, but did so over 90 seconds ahead of her closest competitor. Along with the top seven, I would like to give big ups to Sarah Lane who is a pure example that summer miles bring fall smiles with her breakout 23:47 performance!
It was good to be back! Thank you, and I will see you next time; pre-race at the Walgreens parking lot!
Up Next
This Saturday The Minutemen are at Hastings Park as the boys will have their first chance to race this Fall. The A-Team's meet is set to begin at 9:00am with the B-Team racing promptly at 11:00am. .
Belmont Dual Meet
October 3, 2020
Hastings Park - Lexington, MA
RESULTS: A-RACE
RESULTS: B-RACE
LEXINGTON, MA - Some said it wouldn't happen, some said it shouldn't happen, but this past Saturday - in two separate meets, and in a half dozen different waves - 37 members of the Lexington High School Girls Cross Country team toed the nearly 90ft wide starting line (for social distancing purposes) to race against Belmont. Before getting into the recap of the race a HUGE shoutout goes to LHS's Athletic Director Naomi Martin for pushing so hard to get the kids out there safely this season. Another big thank you to Coach Rebecca Trachsel, Coach Sarah De Leon, and Coach Emmett O'Brien for organizing practices within the COVID-19 guidelines. But most importantly to the student athletes, who have had to endure a summer of training with no guarantee of an XC season; who even at practice cannot enjoy the full team experience as the team is split into two separate groups that never meet for practice on the same day; who train each day and raced Saturday in masks (not buffs or gaiters); and who's shear love for the sport and desire to train and compete with their teammates is what has made this season possible.
Saturday's meet was the first time in 50 years that The Minutemen were not up at Lincoln Field to begin and end a meet in Lexington. Due to COVID constraints the start and finish of the team's course had to be moved down the road to Hastings Park to accommodate social distancing. The modified course could not have been made possible without the Lexington Police Department and Department of Public Works helping to control traffic on Worthen Road so the student athletes could compete safely. Thank you to both the LPD and DPW. Now without any more ado, please enjoy a socially distanced version of this year's "Runner on the Course."
"Runner on the Course" by captain Izzy Jakimczyk
The Lexington Girls Cross Country team was back in business bright and early Saturday morning which means yours truly is back in business as well. I know you guys missed me! Everyone was excited, and even though no one could see each other’s faces under masks, I can guarantee every single girl was smiling cheek-to-cheek when stepping up to the line to complete the new and "improved" - a debate that has yet to be disputed - home course. The bus ride to the meet was a little different this morning due to the fact that it wasn’t a bus ride at all, as everyone drove separately to a site that was not the meet. Where everyone should park however, was a hot topic the night before the meet as some were convinced Walgreens was the best location. Ultimately, the girls came to the consensus that the High School would have to do until Walgreens would finally agree to sponsor the team. Despite the awkwardness of the new pre-race rituals, everyone managed to make it in one piece and I totally remembered to bring my bib number to the starting line. Soon enough it was time for the race to begin, or should I say the three races?
The first wave of the day took off promptly at 9am EST and was absolutely stacked with sophomore Mirra Payson, junior Julia Lennon-Newell, junior Clara Fu, senior Lina Jafaar, senior Rebecca Dalphine, junior Viviane Dalphine, and junior Casey Weisberg. From where I was standing, about twenty feet away, they looked like they were flying right out of the gate. Next, came wave two, a clear example of Lexington’s depth, which included junior Camelia Atassi, senior Anna Nelson, senior captain Lauren Sterne, sophomore Chloe Pacheco-Bloch, sophomore Jasmine Sun and sophomore Uma Sanker who looked real speedy from the get go as well. Finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, wave three consisting of a lineup of studs: sophomore Ashley Taylor, sophomore Serena Ciara, senior captain Aylin Bruce, Dora, freshman Sarah Fu, sophomore Sarah Lane, senior Lorelei Marcell and yours truly.
After the official got to shoot the gun for the third time that day, wave three went out as a pack and stayed in a pack for a really long time. Seriously, that’s like the longest time I’ve been a part of a pack. Things finally started to break up when we reached our first Baskin. It was so nice to see Baskin again, it had been so long and I really missed her and you know who else I missed, Mirra and Clara. They seemed to know how much I missed them because just as I was charging up my first Baskin, they passed me on their second climb. How very sweet of them. Next, came Loring. Thank goodness the coaches were able to keep Loring in the modified course. I seriously don’t know what we would do without Loring, probably PR or something crazy like that!
Anyway, after some post race interviews I was informed of an incident that occurred on Loring that morning. Six members of Belmont’s first wave of girls made a wrong turn and went up Loring twice, thus racing a total of 4.1 miles. Volunteer course director, Evan Eberle who was stationed at the top of Loring saw them crest the hill for a second time and reported the issue to the officials. The result left the race as a "no contest." Despite that notable result, or lack their of, there were plenty other notable events on Loring Saturday. During the JV race I got to witness Campbell Kemp absolutely devour Loring. I’ve never seen someone look so undeterred by that hill, I was in awe. I also got to see the Roy sisters climb one after the other, and hear Galen cheer on her sister Read mid climb which really just made my heart feel all warm and fuzzy. All and all, a very good showing by the Lexington girls. Some notable performances included Mirra (20:53), who led the race from wire-to-wire, a very difficult job, I don’t speak from experience I just know these things. Lauren (21:08) finished with the second fastest overall time and, despite racing from the second wave, was noted to have caught up to some of the girls in the wave that took off before her. Her time just bested Clara's 21:09. Also placing in the top five out of the second wave was Nelson, who came through in a solid 21:38 to land fourth for her team. The Dalphine sisters debuted for The Minutemen with Rebecca placing fifth overall in a time of 21:58, while Vivian was seventh in 22:27. The two made their home country of New Zealand proud with their killer performances, and were only split up by Ashley Taylor (22:14). Not only was Ashley the first runner from the third wave across the finish line, but did so over 90 seconds ahead of her closest competitor. Along with the top seven, I would like to give big ups to Sarah Lane who is a pure example that summer miles bring fall smiles with her breakout 23:47 performance!
It was good to be back! Thank you, and I will see you next time; pre-race at the Walgreens parking lot!
Up Next
This Saturday The Minutemen are at Hastings Park as the boys will have their first chance to race this Fall. The A-Team's meet is set to begin at 9:00am with the B-Team racing promptly at 11:00am. .