THE MINUTEMEN GO TO BATTLE AT ALL-STATES
Meet Information
MIAA Division 1 All-State Championships
November 16, 2019
Gardner Municipal Golf Course - Gardner, MA
RESULTS
GARDNER, MA - Saturday The Minutemen toed the line with the best the Bay State had to offer at the Division 1 All-State Championships. While this year's meet did not feature the snow and ice covered course that tested runners at Stanley Park last fall, The Minutemen had all they could handle in the rolling hills and frigid temps of the 5k golf course. Despite the conditions, LHS battled their way to a pair of top-five finishes for only the second time in school history. Running first on the day the girls from Concord-Carlisle would win the title, while the Lex girls capped off a stellar season with another gritty race that led to a third place finish. On the boys side, Saint John's Prep would win the championship while The Minutemen finished a solid fifth.
As was the case at last week's Divisional Championship, Lucy Jenks, the All-American from Newton South took home the individual crown by crossing the line in 18:53. Something about running at Gardner seems to bring out the best in Lex's own senior captain Pauline Steines. As a freshmen her breakout race helped propel the girls to their first State Title in 15 years. Saturday, she led the way for The Minutemen from the moment the gun was fired, and road that momentum to a 19th place finish in a time of 19:57. Following Steines was fellow classmate and captain Danna Ofek. Her time of 20:18 was good enough for 32nd. After running her best race of the season last week, junior Anna Nelson found a whole other gear at Gardner. She charged over the hilly course to finish in 20:35 - 43rd overall. Clara Fu was not even supposed to race on Saturday but a last minute illness forced Coach Trax to pull her off the bench and hope for the best. Fu gave that and more. On a course that did not allow for many fast times, the sophomore turned in her best time of the season (21:04) to finish 79th overall. LHS's all important fifth finisher was freshman Mirra Payson. The young harrier battled through the cold to a 93rd place finish and in a time of 21:16. Along with the top five, Zoe Gu ran a 21:32 to finish 118th and senior captain Isabel Siu-Zmuidzinas, running in her first Divisional or All-State Meet, crossed the line in 22:19. The Lexington seven proved that when it comes to championship racing, time means nothing and place means everything. While The Minutemen's average time of 20:38 was only the sixth fastest time on the day, they were able to put up 191 points besting three "faster" squads by one, four, and nine points respectively.
Final Girls Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Concord-Carlisle - 74
2. Wellesley - 155
3. Lexington - 191
4. Billerica - 192
5. Shepherd Hill - 195
6. Milton - 200
7. Boston Latin - 222
8. Marshfield - 233
9. Natick - 237
10. Amherst-Pelham - 239
Last week King Philip's All-American, Mike Griffin, waited until the final 200m to out-kick William Chaffin from Concord-Carlisle. At All-States Griffin went to the lead early on took the tape in an impressive 16:06. For The Minutemen, it was a case of same story different race as the seniors took care of the scoring. While senior Micah Benson led the way for the majority of the race it was fellow captain Adam Bernstein who was first across the line for Lexington. The senior harrier's time of 16:46 was good enough for 21st overall. Benson (16:49) was close behind, crossing the finish in 25th place. After a tough day at Wrentham last week, junior Max DiCerbo ran tough every step of the way on Saturday and turned in a time of 17:07 to finish 51st overall. Following Lex's top three was Matt "Big Mac" McAlarney who once again grinded his way to a 69th place finish in a time of 17:19. Despite having one of his spikes ripped off his foot just past the one mile mark (and people say cross country isn't a contact sport) senior Selvin Backert maintain his composure and used his trademark kick to finish right behind Big Mac - 70th overall - in an identical 17:19. Following the top-five was a pair of sophomore's getting their first taste of championship action. Graham Bracken finished 111th in 17:43, while Thomas Lane was 122nd in 17:51.
Final Boys Team Scores (Top 10)
1. St. John's Prep - 112
2. Wellesley - 126
3. Concord-Carlisle - 128
4. Acton-Boxborough - 134
5. Lexington - 156
6. Milton - 200
7. Algonquin - 227
8. Newton South - 242
9. Brookline - 255
10. Lowell - 264
While the boys will be running their full squad in two weeks at Nike Cross Regionals, this was the final time the Lex girls top-seven will race together for the 2019 season. To say this season was a successful one for Coach Trachsel's girls would be to completely understate what they achieved. Unlike last year's team, there were high expectations coming into the season but a myriad of injuries and setbacks threatened to derail the season. However, this group of girls stayed the course and were able to battle back each time a new challenge was thrown at them. They won the inaugural Highland Park Invite by a mere three points. Managed a podium finish at Catholic Memorial Invitational with a depleted squad. Avenged an early season loss to Winchester with a dominating victory at the Middlesex League Championships. Then went to Divisional and captured their fourth title in six years, besting the field by three points once again. All the while having a freshmen squad who went undefeated in every freshmen race in which they competed; proving the future looks bright for The Minutemen. Each time they toed the line the Lex girls have been showed that they are tough, talented, and above all gritty. And while this recap may not say it as well as the team's own "Runner on the Course," Izzy Jakimczyk, I can say that it has been a pleasure to watch these girls compete week after week at practice and battle it out on meet days. Congrats ladies, now on to Indoor!
Up Next
The team will have a two week layoff before traveling to Wappingers Falls New York for the Nike Cross Regionals. The Minutemen will race against the best the northeast has to offer in both Championship and Open races, with the first race going off at 9:00am on Saturday November 30th.
MIAA Division 1 All-State Championships
November 16, 2019
Gardner Municipal Golf Course - Gardner, MA
RESULTS
GARDNER, MA - Saturday The Minutemen toed the line with the best the Bay State had to offer at the Division 1 All-State Championships. While this year's meet did not feature the snow and ice covered course that tested runners at Stanley Park last fall, The Minutemen had all they could handle in the rolling hills and frigid temps of the 5k golf course. Despite the conditions, LHS battled their way to a pair of top-five finishes for only the second time in school history. Running first on the day the girls from Concord-Carlisle would win the title, while the Lex girls capped off a stellar season with another gritty race that led to a third place finish. On the boys side, Saint John's Prep would win the championship while The Minutemen finished a solid fifth.
As was the case at last week's Divisional Championship, Lucy Jenks, the All-American from Newton South took home the individual crown by crossing the line in 18:53. Something about running at Gardner seems to bring out the best in Lex's own senior captain Pauline Steines. As a freshmen her breakout race helped propel the girls to their first State Title in 15 years. Saturday, she led the way for The Minutemen from the moment the gun was fired, and road that momentum to a 19th place finish in a time of 19:57. Following Steines was fellow classmate and captain Danna Ofek. Her time of 20:18 was good enough for 32nd. After running her best race of the season last week, junior Anna Nelson found a whole other gear at Gardner. She charged over the hilly course to finish in 20:35 - 43rd overall. Clara Fu was not even supposed to race on Saturday but a last minute illness forced Coach Trax to pull her off the bench and hope for the best. Fu gave that and more. On a course that did not allow for many fast times, the sophomore turned in her best time of the season (21:04) to finish 79th overall. LHS's all important fifth finisher was freshman Mirra Payson. The young harrier battled through the cold to a 93rd place finish and in a time of 21:16. Along with the top five, Zoe Gu ran a 21:32 to finish 118th and senior captain Isabel Siu-Zmuidzinas, running in her first Divisional or All-State Meet, crossed the line in 22:19. The Lexington seven proved that when it comes to championship racing, time means nothing and place means everything. While The Minutemen's average time of 20:38 was only the sixth fastest time on the day, they were able to put up 191 points besting three "faster" squads by one, four, and nine points respectively.
Final Girls Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Concord-Carlisle - 74
2. Wellesley - 155
3. Lexington - 191
4. Billerica - 192
5. Shepherd Hill - 195
6. Milton - 200
7. Boston Latin - 222
8. Marshfield - 233
9. Natick - 237
10. Amherst-Pelham - 239
Last week King Philip's All-American, Mike Griffin, waited until the final 200m to out-kick William Chaffin from Concord-Carlisle. At All-States Griffin went to the lead early on took the tape in an impressive 16:06. For The Minutemen, it was a case of same story different race as the seniors took care of the scoring. While senior Micah Benson led the way for the majority of the race it was fellow captain Adam Bernstein who was first across the line for Lexington. The senior harrier's time of 16:46 was good enough for 21st overall. Benson (16:49) was close behind, crossing the finish in 25th place. After a tough day at Wrentham last week, junior Max DiCerbo ran tough every step of the way on Saturday and turned in a time of 17:07 to finish 51st overall. Following Lex's top three was Matt "Big Mac" McAlarney who once again grinded his way to a 69th place finish in a time of 17:19. Despite having one of his spikes ripped off his foot just past the one mile mark (and people say cross country isn't a contact sport) senior Selvin Backert maintain his composure and used his trademark kick to finish right behind Big Mac - 70th overall - in an identical 17:19. Following the top-five was a pair of sophomore's getting their first taste of championship action. Graham Bracken finished 111th in 17:43, while Thomas Lane was 122nd in 17:51.
Final Boys Team Scores (Top 10)
1. St. John's Prep - 112
2. Wellesley - 126
3. Concord-Carlisle - 128
4. Acton-Boxborough - 134
5. Lexington - 156
6. Milton - 200
7. Algonquin - 227
8. Newton South - 242
9. Brookline - 255
10. Lowell - 264
While the boys will be running their full squad in two weeks at Nike Cross Regionals, this was the final time the Lex girls top-seven will race together for the 2019 season. To say this season was a successful one for Coach Trachsel's girls would be to completely understate what they achieved. Unlike last year's team, there were high expectations coming into the season but a myriad of injuries and setbacks threatened to derail the season. However, this group of girls stayed the course and were able to battle back each time a new challenge was thrown at them. They won the inaugural Highland Park Invite by a mere three points. Managed a podium finish at Catholic Memorial Invitational with a depleted squad. Avenged an early season loss to Winchester with a dominating victory at the Middlesex League Championships. Then went to Divisional and captured their fourth title in six years, besting the field by three points once again. All the while having a freshmen squad who went undefeated in every freshmen race in which they competed; proving the future looks bright for The Minutemen. Each time they toed the line the Lex girls have been showed that they are tough, talented, and above all gritty. And while this recap may not say it as well as the team's own "Runner on the Course," Izzy Jakimczyk, I can say that it has been a pleasure to watch these girls compete week after week at practice and battle it out on meet days. Congrats ladies, now on to Indoor!
Up Next
The team will have a two week layoff before traveling to Wappingers Falls New York for the Nike Cross Regionals. The Minutemen will race against the best the northeast has to offer in both Championship and Open races, with the first race going off at 9:00am on Saturday November 30th.