Race after race across Massachusetts this past Saturday, local cross country programs were well-represented with strong individual and team finishes.
Marblehead High competed in the Division 2-A races at the Northfield Mountain Recreation Center. On the girls’ side, a second-place team finish, Sarah Munroe (7th -20:18.10) and Marrietta O’Connell (8th – 20:22.52) secured back-to-back finishes.
“It was a fantastic display of team running and tremendous heart from the Marblehead girls on a very challenging Northfield course,” said girls’ coach William Herlihy. “The girls will look back with tremendous pride on everything they’ve accomplished so far, but they also know the job’s not done yet. When the gun goes off this Saturday (Div. 2 state championship), I have all the confidence in the world that these girls will rise to the occasion as they have all season long.”
Henrik Adams (8th – 17:18.55) and Will Cruikshank (12th – 17:24.59) guided the boys (5th overall).
“I could not be more proud of the team and these two senior captains in particular,” said boys’ coach Brian Heenan. “We have been working on pacing throughout the last month in preparation for this course in particular. The course is the toughest course we run throughout the season with a 600-meter hill in the first mile. The boys wanted to get out in good position and then work the second and third mile. Henrik and Will executed the race plan to perfection. The success of this team, especially in the second half of the season, is due to the leadership of these captains: Henrik, Will, and Zach Pike.”
John McIntosh (6th – 15:59.00) led St. John’s Prep (3rd) in the Division 1-A state races at Wrentham Developmental Center.
