The Andover Middle School Cross Country team wrapped up their season at the Division III State Championship Meet at Coe Brown Northwood Academy on Saturday, October 22nd.
The cross country team lucked out on weather, it seemed to be pouring everywhere else. We enjoyed a light mist all day until the awards ceremony.
The course was a true rolling cross country course with a mostly downhill start, some single track, and an uphill finish. There were four races: Girls Non-Scoring, Boys Non-Scoring, Girls Championship, and Boys Championship. Andover had runners in each race.
Alexis Plante got things started with a fabulous run in the Girls Non-Scoring race. She started strong and was among the first down the hill and into the woods. She reaped the rewards of her strong start for the rest of the race on the narrow trails that made passing difficult. She flew into the single track section and then finished with a strong kick on the track to record a lifetime best 19:01.
Caleb Warzocha and Colin Coolidge were up next in the Boys Non-Scoring race. Caleb and Colin also got a strong start. They settled into the middle of the pack and got to work on the rolling trails. Colin moved ahead of Caleb near the mile and they worked together for the rest of the race. They were a few seconds apart entering the single track. Colin emerged from the woods and finished strong in a time of 17:41 with Caleb finishing shortly after in 18:03.
Next up were the Championship races. Elliott, Jason, Camryn, and Lagan lined up in the largest race of the day with 246 boys. The boys did a good job getting across the field and downhill into the woods. They worked well together throughout the race moving through the crowd. Elliott led the team at the mile mark and continued to move through the crowd to finish in 13:59. He was followed by Jason in a time of 15:10. Cam and Lagan rounded out the team finishing in 15:37 and 15:44.
The Girls Championship race was the most anticipated of the day. The defending champion was looking for a third consecutive title and course record and there was a pack of about 8 girls that wanted to challenge her. Add to that Hopkinton trying to repeat as team champions facing a strong challenge as well.
Andover was represented by Sophia Reynolds, Arie Perry, and Trinity Delaney. At the gun all three flew to the front of the race. As they descended the hill into the woods, Sophia was in the lead with the defending champion with Arie and Trinity close behind. All three had a perfect start.
As the race wound over the first mile, Sophia was within 5 seconds of the defending champion in the lead. Arie and Trinity were close to each other in the main group of the race. As the girls went into the single track with three quarters of a mile to go, Sophia was in second place 8 seconds behind the leader.
As they left the single track the leader took advantage of the long climb to the finish to put the field away and set a course record. Sophia emerged from the woods and onto the track with 4 other girls. She out-sprinted them to finish second for the second year in a row in a personal best 12:21. Arie and Trinity continued to work together and finish strong 15:06 and 15:34.