THE MINUTEMEN FALL TO THE SPY PONDERS
Meet Information
Arlington Dual Meet
October 12, 2021
McClennen Park - Arlington, MA
RESULTS
JV
ARLINGTON, MA - Coming into the meet the Lexington and Arlington teams had only one loss between the four squads, with the Spy Ponders' boys narrowly losing to Reading earlier this year. This meant that Tuesday's meet would be a battle with Championship level implications. The last time LHS traveled to Arlington, the boys lost to a team led by former National Champion Ryan Oosting. The teams ended up clashing four more times that season with The Minutemen getting the best of the Spy Ponders three of them. Last year it took a hard fought effort for LHS to pull out a victory at home by a score of 24-31. All of this is to say, that there is history between these two schools. And Tuesday the girls got in on the action.
This year's meet had an added twist as Arlington's normal home course at the Arlington Reservoir was under construction, which meant the meet had to be held at McClennen Park. The girls varsity race went off first with junior Mirra Payson and senior captain Clara Fu joining Arlington juniors Simone Harrison and Pilar Leber in the breakaway pack. This group battled it out over the five loops in and around the park. In the final half mile Harrison pulled away from the group to take the tape in 20:01. Fu and Leber battled to the line with Leber just edging out LHS's top girl by one second. Leber finished in 20:07, while Fu was third overall in 20:08. Payson would come through the line in 20:48, but with Arlington turning in the next three finishers The Minutemen's fate was sealed and Arlington would eventually win handily by a score of 21-38.
The boys race saw a very similar story unfold as senior captains Evan Eberle and Ollie DiCerbo went out with a pack of four Spy Ponders. The group of six pulled away from the pack early in the race and wound its way around the Park's trails over the first two miles. In the final mile Eberle and Arlington senior Justine Eastman began to string things out, blowing the pack apart with a hard charge in the final 800 meters. As the two came to the final stretch they were both in full flight with Eberle leading the way and dashing across the line to win the race in 16:45. Eastman would cross just behind in 16:47. Unfortunately for The Minutemen, Arlington placed three more runners before DiCerbo (17:11) could make it to the finish. The Spy Ponders would go on to win the race by a score of 21-34, continuing The Minutemen's woes in Arlington.
Despite the tough losses, a few bright spots came in the JV race. For the girls sophomore Maya Dubrovsky used a strong finish to win the race in a time of 23:04. On the boys side, senior Till Steines turned in his second sub-19 minute effort of the season. Steines's 18:58 was his second fastest ever 5k time.
Up Next
The Minutemen travel to historic Franklin Park this Saturday for the 60th Annual Catholic Memorial Invitational. The course, which hosted the 1994 World Cross Country Championships, offers runners and spectators the opportunity to traverse what is arguably the best 5k in the state. LHS will be competing in the Freshmen and Varsity races, which will begin at 9:30am.
Arlington Dual Meet
October 12, 2021
McClennen Park - Arlington, MA
RESULTS
JV
ARLINGTON, MA - Coming into the meet the Lexington and Arlington teams had only one loss between the four squads, with the Spy Ponders' boys narrowly losing to Reading earlier this year. This meant that Tuesday's meet would be a battle with Championship level implications. The last time LHS traveled to Arlington, the boys lost to a team led by former National Champion Ryan Oosting. The teams ended up clashing four more times that season with The Minutemen getting the best of the Spy Ponders three of them. Last year it took a hard fought effort for LHS to pull out a victory at home by a score of 24-31. All of this is to say, that there is history between these two schools. And Tuesday the girls got in on the action.
This year's meet had an added twist as Arlington's normal home course at the Arlington Reservoir was under construction, which meant the meet had to be held at McClennen Park. The girls varsity race went off first with junior Mirra Payson and senior captain Clara Fu joining Arlington juniors Simone Harrison and Pilar Leber in the breakaway pack. This group battled it out over the five loops in and around the park. In the final half mile Harrison pulled away from the group to take the tape in 20:01. Fu and Leber battled to the line with Leber just edging out LHS's top girl by one second. Leber finished in 20:07, while Fu was third overall in 20:08. Payson would come through the line in 20:48, but with Arlington turning in the next three finishers The Minutemen's fate was sealed and Arlington would eventually win handily by a score of 21-38.
The boys race saw a very similar story unfold as senior captains Evan Eberle and Ollie DiCerbo went out with a pack of four Spy Ponders. The group of six pulled away from the pack early in the race and wound its way around the Park's trails over the first two miles. In the final mile Eberle and Arlington senior Justine Eastman began to string things out, blowing the pack apart with a hard charge in the final 800 meters. As the two came to the final stretch they were both in full flight with Eberle leading the way and dashing across the line to win the race in 16:45. Eastman would cross just behind in 16:47. Unfortunately for The Minutemen, Arlington placed three more runners before DiCerbo (17:11) could make it to the finish. The Spy Ponders would go on to win the race by a score of 21-34, continuing The Minutemen's woes in Arlington.
Despite the tough losses, a few bright spots came in the JV race. For the girls sophomore Maya Dubrovsky used a strong finish to win the race in a time of 23:04. On the boys side, senior Till Steines turned in his second sub-19 minute effort of the season. Steines's 18:58 was his second fastest ever 5k time.
Up Next
The Minutemen travel to historic Franklin Park this Saturday for the 60th Annual Catholic Memorial Invitational. The course, which hosted the 1994 World Cross Country Championships, offers runners and spectators the opportunity to traverse what is arguably the best 5k in the state. LHS will be competing in the Freshmen and Varsity races, which will begin at 9:30am.