The Marblehead High girls cross-country team capped off its undefeated season with a team win in the annual Northeastern Conference Championship Meet at Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park on Oct. 25.
“This strong team performance was made possible by all of our top seven varsity runners,” said coach Will Herlihy. “In her last NEC race, senior captain Marri O’Connell once again took the top spot, but it was not without drama. With less than a half-mile to go, Marri was trailing Swampscott’s Annabelle Averett by 30 meters, but she dug deep and was able to erase the lead to snatch the win from her.”
After the race, O’Connell reflected on the moment. “I knew I had my work cut out for me in the last half-mile, but I just kept on ramping up my stride and turning my legs over, because I didn’t want to end my senior year with a second-place finish,” she said. “I also knew a first-place finish would help my team win the title, so I just kept on chipping away at the lead. I eventually was able to take the lead, and then hold off (Averett) in the home stretch. It’s an amazing feeling, and I’m so proud of myself and my team for everything we’ve accomplished this season.”
Herlihy continues to shake his head just thinking about O’Connell’s accomplishments. “Her NEC run throughout the last four years was one of, if not the best, runs any NEC (track) athlete has ever had. She has now been able to pull off back-to-back-to-back individual titles after finishing second in her freshman year,” he said, “and that doesn’t take into account she never lost a regular season meet in four years.”
Not far behind the NEC Meet leaders in the second group was Marblehead’s Sarah Munroe, who finished fifth overall after leading the chase pack for the majority of the race.
Norah Walsh and Ruby Assa came in 10th and 12th, respectively, and the team’s fifth and final scorer was Evelina Beletsky, who crossed the finish line in 18th place.
Sophia Letwin (22nd) and Jesslyn Roemer (24th) also participated and finished the race for Marblehead.
“I can’t praise our varsity runners enough,” said Herlihy. “Sarah Munroe and Norah Walsh were making their cross-country debuts this season, and both were outstanding. Ruby Assa, Evelina Beletsky and Jesslyn Roemer are returning runners, and they all took big steps forward in their development, as well. Sophia Letwin made the smooth transition from JVs, and ended up being a huge part of our varsity squad all year long.”
For the record, O’Connell and Munroe earned NEC All-Conference honors, and Walsh and Assa made the All-Star squad.
Marblehead also dominated the JV race after taking the first five spots, led by freshmen Ginny Donato. “Ginny’s win was nearly wire-to-wire, and, if she had been in the varsity race, she would have finished 26th overall,” said Herlihy.
Senior Hailey Schmitt was second. Freshman Nadia Siragusa accounted for third, followed by junior Maggie Miller and freshmen Izzy Anaya Lanzillo, who were the fourth and fifth place runners in that order.
Of Marblehead’s top 12 runners at this meet, only two are seniors — O’Connell and Schmitt — as the future continues to look bright for this program.
Cruikshank makes All-Conference after finishing eighth in NEC Meet
The Marblehead High boys cross country team finished third in the annual NEC Meet at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester on Oct. 25.
“After finishing fourth in the regular season, the boys ran one of their best races of the season to end up third with 72 points,” said coach Brian Heenan.
Peabody (56 points) and Swampscott (63 points) topped the NEC ticket this year in a meet that determines the all-star team.
The Magicians were led by Will Cruikshank, who ended up earning All-Conference honors after coming in eighth overall. Henrik Adams (ninth) and Filip Grubor (12th) made the all-star team with Top 16 finishes. Zach Pike (20th), Colin Hart (23rd), Isaac Durand (25th) and Thomas Svencer (33rd) rounded out the Top 7 Marblehead varsity runners.
In the JV race, Felix Regnault (second), Ivan Monin (fourth) and Victor Pechhold (fifth) led the way for this Marblehead crew. Grey Collins (22nd), Graham Firestone (26th) and Daniel Le (37th) also ran well.
“Felix and Ivan had their best races of the season, leading throughout most of it,” said Heenan, “and it was also great to see Victor return to racing after recovering from an injury since August.”
