Bromfield's boys and girls cross-country teams traveled to Falmouth Oct. 15 to compete at one of the largest high school invitationals in the state. The Trojans’ freshman teams each stepped away with a first-place title, and the boys were runners-up in the junior varsity race. Several runners also collected personal bests despite a crowded course and modified starting line.
The invitational held on the Cape Cod Fairgrounds was the teams’ largest competition so far this season. This year’s event was split between two days, with small schools racing Friday and large schools on Saturday. Over 4,600 athletes competed over two days. The density of the competition meant each team was allowed only one runner on the line, with each additional teammate lining up behind them.
Coach Marisa Steele said the crowded course was less than ideal, but the runners loved the high-energy, “carnival type” atmosphere. The course looped through a barn at two places and, inside, the structure was decked out with string lights; throughout the course loud music blended with the noise of the crowd and pounding feet. “There’s a lot of adrenaline and kids tend to run fast here,” wrote Steele.
Bromfield’s two youngest teams were the highlight of the evening, topping the field in the freshman 2.1-mile races. The girls beat out nine teams with 71 points, and the boys set themselves apart in an 18-team field. Their 42 points put them 62 points ahead of second-place Melrose High School.
For the girls freshman race, eighth-grader Rosie Bradley finished the 2.1-mile course in 13 minutes, 56 seconds, taking 10th just ahead of freshman Isabel Jackson in 13:59 for 11th place. Also working together were freshman Ally Becker and seventh-grader Gabriella Temps, running 15:10 and 15:15 for 29th and 30th, respectively. Seventh-grader Sarah Voute (16:20) battled Middleboro’s fourth runner down the home stretch to clinch 57th by a hair. Her finish left the team 13 points ahead of Dover-Sherborn High School in second. Seventh-graders Annabel Purcell (17:46) and Lena Aloise (17:56) were 102nd and 109th, respectively.
The freshman and middle school boys were equally impressive, placing five runners in the top 20 in a field of 201. Eighth-grader Harrison Binnick placed fourth with 11:48, followed by freshman Ethan Russo, running 11:57 for eighth. Eighth-grader Christian Johannesen (11:58) was a second behind in ninth, and seventh-grader Ben McWaters took 13th in 12:02. Eighth-grader Liam Kemeza wrapped things up with 19th in 12:29. Steele said the boys ran smart and tough and that they are ready to join their older teammates at the Dick Atkinson Invitational Oct. 23. She said she’s looking forward to seeing how the team fares at a large invitational with all its top runners in the same race.
In the boys junior varsity 5K, sophomore Demetrios Kekis led Bromfield with a one-minute personal record, running 19:39 for 28th place. Next in for the Trojans were seniors Aiden Long (21:16) and Cam Milliken (21:19) in 88th and 92nd, respectively. Steele highlighted Milliken’s performance, noting that the personal record is the result of hard work at practice and a strong racing mentality come meet day. The race comes at the end of Milliken’s six-year career as a Trojan runner and will be one of his last with the team. Coming in behind Milliken, senior Zach Schoenberg ran 21:54 for 114th and John Zobbi placed 123rd overall in 22:11 to cap the team score at 331 and put Bromfield 11th out of 21 teams.
The girls junior varsity 5K team was led by eighth-grader Cate Corbett and freshman Emma Squire, who put their team on solid footing with their second- and third-place finishes, running 19:58 and 20:27, respectively. Abigail Ames was next for the Trojans in 23:12 and 33rd, followed closely by fellow sophomore Arpi Mirzabegian in 23:15 and 35th. Sophomore Ruby Farough’s 138th-place finish in 27:23 rounded out the team score at 123 points, putting it second behind the Sturgis West Charter School with 101 points. Each of the five athletes ran personal bests and the team’s sixth runner, Anika Challa, hit a season-best time of 28:13, putting her 148th.
In the boys varsity 5K race the Trojans were one runner short of posting a team score, but senior captain Julian Iverson led with a personal record performance of 17:17. The time is a 63-second improvement over his previous best and landed him 38th in the field of 309 runners. Sophomore Jack Stahl also clocked his fastest time ever by 45 seconds, crossing the line in 17:47 for 57th. Senior Nick Russo ran 18:43 and was 118th, and sophomore Diesel Whitten rounded out the Bromfield crew in 19:15 and 157th.
Steele said the boys are still working on maintaining a steady pace in the middle of the race. She notices the athletes starting and finishing well but lagging somewhat in between. “That should come with improved fitness and more racing experience,” she explained.
Junior Molly Squire was the only Trojan to toe the line in the girls varsity 5K, running a season best time of 21:46 and placing 85th out of 199 runners.
The boys will race again Saturday at Stanley Park to preview the sectional course. The girls have a bye week and return Oct. 30 for the Midland-Wachusett Division C meet.
