Mount Greylock Boys, Girls Cross Country Dominate Opener
CHESHIRE, Mass. -- The Mount Greylock girls cross country team opened its defense of its 2017 state championship in convincing fashion on Wednesday, blowing away the field and earning a pair of dual meet wins in a five-team meet at Hoosac Valley.
Sophomore Jacqueline Wells led a Mount Greylock sweep of the top three podium positions and gave the Mounties’ program a first-place sweep on the girls and boys sides of the meet, which included teams from Pittsfield, Mount Everett, Monument Mountain and the host Hurricanes.
Wells finished in 20 minutes, 33.46 seconds to edge teammate Josephine Smith (20:41.03). Smith was followed by fellow freshman Katherine Swann in 21:18.34.
The Mounties ended up taking 12 of the top 20 positions in the race -- including four junior high school finishers.
On the boys’ side, the Mounties were nearly as dominant, filling 11 of the top 20 positions, led by junior Josh Cheung in 18:21.65.
He was followed across the line by Monument Mountain’s Peter LaRochelle (18:29.98).
Mount Greylock seniors Jesse Seid and Jakin Miller were the next ones across, followed by Mount Everett’s Cole Duval (19:27.53). Pittsfield’s top finisher was Anthony Hunt in 20:19.72. Hoosac Valley’s Justin Levesque placed 29th with a time of 22:35.72.
The Mounties defeated Hoosac Valley and Pittsfield in the duals.
Mount Everett ran against Monument Mountain and Pittsfield.
The Spartans and Generals each picked up victories on the boys and girls sides.
In the girls race, Monument Mountain’s Grace Phair was the first non-Mountie across the finish line, coming in fourth in 21:23.73. Pittsfield’s Cami Diehl was fifth in 22:28.46. Hoosac Valley senior Natiya Cilli was 11th in 23:45.32, and Mount Everett’s Carly Duval (28:07.98) placed 27th.
Team scores
Girls: Mount Greylock 15, Hoosac Valley 48; Mount Greylock 17, Pittsfield, 42; Monument Mountain 17, Mount Everett 46; Pittsfield 17, Mount Everett 46.
Boys: Mount Greylock 15, Hoosac Valley 50; Mount Greylock 15, Pittsfield 49; Monument Mountain 22, Mount Everett 39; Pittsfield 27, Mount Everett 32.
Girls Top 20
Jacqueline Wells (MG), 20:33.46; 2. Josephine Smith (MG), 20:41.03; 3. Katherine Swann (MG), 21:18.34; 4. Grace Phair (MM), 21:23.73; 5. Cami Diehl (PHS), 22:28.46; 6. Margo Smith (MG) 23:01.37; 7. Hazel Scullin (MG), 23:07.09; 8. Megan Francoeur (PHS), 23:09.65; 9. Ainsley Abel (MG), 23:12.09; 10. Emelyn Theriault (PHS), 23:12.88; 11. Natiya Cilli (HV), 23:45.32; 12. Abby Kittler (PHS), 23:47.91; 13. Jamie Barthe (HV), 24:20.45; 14. Miriam Bakija (MG), 24:24.59; 15. Eliza Philp (MM), 24:33.83; 16. Lily McDermott (MG), 25:30.05; 17. Erin Keating (MG), 26.07.95; 18. Hannah Locklear (MG), 26:17.85; 19. Brandi Gill (MG), 26:25.59; 20. Sarah Polumbo (MG), 26:27.40.
Boys Top 20
Josh Cheung (MG), 18:21.65; 2. Peter LaRochelle (MM), 18:29.98; 3. Jesse Seid (MG), 18:50.86; 4. Jakin Miller (MG), 19:05.52; 5. Cole Duval (ME), 19:27.53; 6. Keegan Leach (MM), 19:38.31; 7. Oliver Swabey (MG), 19:48.38; 8. Grayson Duval (ME), 19:55.00; 9. Charlie McWeeny (MG), 19:55.37; 10. Diego Salinetti (MM), 20:11.42; 11. Theo Sandstrom (MG), 20:16.73; 12. Anthony Hunt (PHS), 20:19.72; 13. Corban Miller (MG), 20:21.00; 14. Owen Tucker-Smith (MG), 20:57.61; 15. Eamon Hetherington (MG), 20:59.50; 16. Caleb Pollard (MM), 20:59.50; 17. Caleb McDermott (MG), 21:05.86; 18. Caleb Low (MG), 21:25.10; 19. Andrew McCarthy (MM), 21:26.86; 20. John Broderick (MM), 21:32.81.