by John Osborn ·
Friday, November 15, 2024
Bromfield’s cross-country runners were once again in the winner’s circle last weekend following strong performances by both the boys and girls in the 2024 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 3C sectional meets held Nov. 9 at Wrentham Developmental Center in Everett.
The girls won the Division 3C championship with 87 points, powered by the third, fourth, and 14th place finishes of senior Evelyn Wool (18 minutes, 27.21 seconds), junior Rosie Bradley (18:42.50), and freshman Abby Wool (20:20.73). In clinching first place, Bromfield edged out Mount Greylock Regional, a traditional rival, whose top three runners trailed Abby Wool by seconds. The race winner was Oxford sophomore Cameron Davis (17:53.58) who competed as an individual and qualified for the upcoming state meet. Evelyn Wool’s time was her season best, and Bradley’s and Abby Wool’s times were personal records.
From left: Mike Mahon informs Rosie Bradley, Evelyn Wool, and Gabriella Temps that they won the Division 3C race by 6 points to be the first-place finishers. (Photos by Kate Wool)
The Bromfield boys won second place and the 2024 runner-up plaque in the Division 3C boys competition with a score of 82 points. Sophomore Ben McWaters (16:13.55) and junior Harrison Binnick (16:29.77) finished third and ninth respectively, with runner No. 3, junior Liam Kemeza (16:57.10), finishing 20th, giving the Trojans a 10-point lead over third place Mount Greylock Regional. Both Binnick’s and Kemeza’s times were personal records. Parker Charter School dominated the race with 25 points, all five of its lead runners among the top 15. Parker senior Henry Jacobson (15:47.98) was the race winner.
Junior Harrison Binnick (#61) races to the finish line. The boys team placed second in the district finals.
Sectional cross-country meets are held each year to select the teams and individuals in each division who will compete in the MIAA all-state finals. Each Division 3 section or ”wave,” as the MIAA calls them, includes 19 to 29 schools and 100 runners. The top seven teams in each wave qualify for the states as do the top 10 individual runners. Each team’s score is determined by adding the places of its top five finishers.
The competition in Division 3C is always challenging, girls coach Matt Lynde said in an email to the Press. “We’ve been up against some strong Western Massachusetts schools in this race for the past few years.” Especially Mount Greylock and Lenox, he added. “I considered them the favorites going into Saturday’s race. So, did the announcer, who called them out over the speakers before the race as the favored group,” Lynde said.
Every race has a story. Lynde said the team’s strategy last week was to secure a strong start with Evelyn Wool and Bradley and to close the gap on Greylock with Abby Wool and juniors Christina Kekis and Helen Holzmann. “I anticipated that Mount Greylock’s top five would finish before our fifth runner. That meant Abby, Christina, and Helen needed to shave just enough time off their recent marks to make the difference, and they delivered.”
All three set new personal records, showing “phenomenal improvement,” Lynde said. “Abby took 14th overall, medaling with a personal record of 20:20.73, 43 seconds faster than her previous best. Christina broke 21 minutes for the first time, finishing in 20:59.79, 20 seconds faster than her previous PR. Helen clocked in at 21:35.21, knocking 19 seconds off her best time. This edge at the margins helped us beat Greylock by a narrow seven points. It was as close as it gets.”
“The State final … will of course be our most difficult challenge,” Lynde told the Press. “Repeating [last year’s championship] will be more than difficult, but at least we know [the girls] will give it their best.”
Boys coach Marisa Steele offered a similar explanation for the boys success. While the team counted on No. 1 runner McWaters to anchor its performance, Steele noted that runners Binnick, Kemeza, and Christian Johannesen finished less than a minute behind him and have done so consistently all season.
“At the beginning of the season, there was a 4 minute, 40 second spread between our first and seventh runner,” she said. Sophomore Shea Van Cleef, and freshmen Kai Kemeza and Micah Wiebe—runners five through seven—have narrowed that spread to just under 1 minute, 30 seconds, said Steele. “We will need that type of low spread next weekend when we race stiffer competition at the Division 3 state championships.”
As this article was being reported, the two teams were preparing for that meet, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 16, at Willard Field in Devens. Start time for the girls is 2 p.m., for the boys, 2:45 p.m. The awards ceremony is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.
Last year the girls were the 2023 MIAA Division 3 champs, narrowly defeating Lenox. The boys placed fifth.
The district champs pose for a photo. From left: Rosie Bradley, Evelyn Wool, Abby Wool, Kylie Nguyen, Gabriella Temps, Helen Holzmann, and Christina Kekis.
Girls
Team score: 87
- Evelyn Wool, senior, third place, 18:27.21
- Rosie Bradley, junior, fourth place, 18:42.50
- Abby Wool, freshman, 14th place, 20:20.73
- Christina Kekis, junior, 29th place, 20:59.79
- Helen Holzmann, junior, 43rd place, 21:35.21
- Kylie Nguyen, freshman, 70th, 23:06.24
- Gabriella Temps, sophomore, 83rd, 23:33.22
Boys
Team score: 82
- Ben McWaters, sophomore, third place, 16:13.55
- Harrison Binnick, junior, ninth place, 16:29.77
- Liam Kemeza, junior, 20th place, 16:57.10
- Christian Johannesen, junior, 25th place, 17:08.11
- Shea Van Cleef, sophomore, 28th place, 17:17.65
- Kai Kemeza, freshman, 33rd, 17:30.40
- Micah Wiebe, freshman, 39th, 17:42.65