GLOUCESTER — The best of the best gathered for Saturday morning’s Northeastern Conference cross country championships at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. The Marblehead girls (46 points) were victorious, as were the Peabody boys (56).
Marblehead’s Marrietta O’Connell won the race with a dynamic time of 18:37 – just a split second before Swampscott’s Annabelle Averett (18:38). Two fellow Magicians finished in the top 10: Sarah Munroe (5th – 19:11) and Norah Walsh (10th – 20:14). Ruby Assa placed with 12th with another strong finish.
“I knew I had my work cut out for me in the last half-mile, but I just kept ramping up my stride and turning my legs over,” O’Connell said. “I didn’t want to end my senior year with a second-place finish and I knew first would help my team win the team title, so I just kept chipping away at the lead and I was just able to take the lead and hold her (Averett) off in the home stretch. It was an amazing feeling and I’m so proud of myself and my team for everything we’ve accomplished this season.”
Peabody’s Mohamed Lhassouani clocked in at third place (16:22), only trailing the Beverly duo of Charlie Boissler (1st – 15:48) and Jason Provost (2nd – 15:51). The versatility of the Tanners was on full display. Osama Mishal (11th – 16:55), Matthew McCusker (13th – 17:08), Aiden Trainor (14th – 17:12), and Jackson Guerriero (15th – 17:17) all crossed the finish line within 22 seconds of each other.
Swampscott’s Atticus Jakious (16:27) and Simon Brown (16:35) finished fifth and sixth, respectively, among boys. Also in the top 10 were Marbleheaders Will Cruikshank (8th – 16:44) and Henrik Adams (9th – 16:46), as well as Swampscott’s Anthony Colella (10th – 16:51).
The Tanners concluded their conference campaign as Dunn Division and meet champions.
Team results (girls): Marblehead (46 points), Peabody (62), Danvers (75), Masconomet (82), Swampscott (115), Beverly (118), Salem (209).
Team results (boys): Peabody (56 points), Swampscott (63), Marblehead (72), Masconomet (80), Beverly (84), Danvers (189), Salem (203), Winthrop (207), Saugus (276).
