Strength in numbers has always been the mantra for the Hamilton-Wenham girls cross country program … and that strength brought another state championship trophy home this weekend.
The Generals had three runners finish in the top 16 of the Division 3 All-State championship race at Fort Devens on Saturday to claim the team title with 89 points. Hamilton-Wenham topped long-time rival Bromfield’s 133 points to deliver yet another Massachusetts championship for Hall of Fame coach Steve Sawyer.
Hamilton-Wenham sophomore Grace Rich came in sixth out of 175 competitors in Division 3 at 19:33 and classmate Asa Labell was seventh in 19:38. Senior Charlotte Madden ran a 20:27 to finish in 16th place while 8th grader Talia Label was next across for the Generals (30th, 21:08) followed by fellow middle schooler Anneliese Abers (64th, 22:09).
It was very nearly a double dip for the Generals, but the boys wound up in second place with 76 points behind an amazing showing by Parker Charter Essential with 55 points. Hamilton-Wenham’s Ben Rich, a senior, placed third overall in 16:23 while senior James Regan placed 10th (16:56) and sophomore Cole Regan was 11th (16:58). Sophomore Seth Glidden was 27th (17:33) and senior Clark Glidden was 34th (17:40).
Swampscott’s boys were 10th as a team led by junior Simon Brown (23rd, 17:20) and sophomore Anthony Colella (35th, 17:40).
Individually in the Division 3 competition, Swampscott freshman Annabelle Averett finished in 10th place (19:40) and senior Collette Heil was 19th (20:31).
The Northeastern Conference was all over the top of the standings in the Division 2 competition. After finally finding out they could officially compete amid the teacher’s strike in town on Thursday, Marblehead’s boys came in second place as a team and senior Nate Assa was runner-up individually with a standout time of 15:52. Senior Will Cerrutti also medaled with a sixth place time of 16:16, and senior Jacob Szalewicz was 16th (16:48).
“I couldn’t be more proud of the way the boys raced today,” said Marblehead coach Brian Heenan. “Nothing has been normal for them this week: no school, an abnormal practice schedule, and they rose to the occasion. It was a tremendous season for these boys.”
Henrik Adams (58th, 17:41), Will Cruikshank (82nd, 17:57), Jonah Potach (155th, 19:10), and David Alpert (163rd, 19:32) ran strong races for Marblehead as well.
A pair of individuals that qualified from the defending state champs from Danvers both finished in the top 10. Senior Will Conklin placed fourth with a time of 15:57 and J.J. Rooney, also a senior, was eighth in 16:25.
In the Division 2 girls race, Marblehead star junior Mari O’Connell placed third overall in a time of 19:18 to help her team finish in 20th place. Ruby Assa (22:37.43) finished 96th as Marblehead’s second runner, followed by Evelina Beletsky (23:32.75) in 130th. Senior captain Abbie Goodwin (23:48.82) closed out her career on a high note, finishing in 142nd and improving by 35 seconds from last week.
“I’m really proud of the team, but more importantly I know they’re proud of themselves,” Marblehead girls coach Will Herlihy said.
Danvers, which qualified as a team, placed 11th led by sophomore Grace Conklin (44th, 21:21) and freshman Addi Lamar (55th, 21:43).
Masconomet sent both its boys and girls teams to the All-State competition. The boys were 17th (out-doing their 18th place seed) led by senior Justin Dolanski (74th, 17:51) and junior Owen Walsh (17:58). The Chieftain girls were 23rd thanks in part to Mara Siewko (22:17).
With two runners in the top 30, Bishop Fenwick’s girls were 15th in the Division 2 team standings. Junior Marianna Kay was 21st overall (20:33) and sophomore Addie Sweatman was 26th (20:43).
Giulia Bussone from Essex Tech also ran in the Division 2 girls race, clocking 21:59 for 67th out of 183 runners.
In the Division 1 boys race, Peabody senior Declan Smith had the top placing locally with his 16:55 time, earning 22nd place. As a team, St. John’s Prep placed 14th led by Liam Mahoney (53rd, 16:56) and Jack McIntosh (58th, 17:00).
The Tanner girls wound up 14th as a team as senior captain Leah Buckley led the pack by finishing 48th in 20:09. Freshman Lauren Foley was 58th (20:19) and classmate Ella Braz ran 20:46.
Beverly freshman Grace Corbett also had a strong showing in Division 1, placing 56th (out of 186) in 20:18.