Boys and girls cross country come home from the Frank Kelley Invitational Meet with two first-place team finishes and hopes for a state title. It has been a great season for both teams this fall, with the boys remaining undefeated and winning the DCLs for the first time in three years. Meanwhile, the girls have faced unfortunate injuries that, nevertheless, haven’t diminished their chances at the state title. The girls are no strangers to success, having already made headlines last season with reigning Division I individual champion, junior Aoife Shovlin, and a third-place team finish in the States. With Shovlin and senior Eliza Dickie at the front, they hope to once again compete for the state title. The girls have had a great start to the season with wins against Concord-Carlisle, Westford, and Lincoln-Sudbury, although injuries prevented them from defeating Acton-Boxborough, another contender for the state title. Currently ranked third in the state by BayStateRunning, they are one of the favorites to win the state championship. With Shovlin leading the push, there are high hopes to finish the season with a bang. Shovlin says, “This year is different because it’s the first year we have real championship experience, which puts us in a better position to win the state meet as a team.” Both individually and as a team, the girls are looking strong as the season progresses.
On the boy’s side, prospects are similarly looking up. Fresh off the Dual-County League win, Cambridge has crushed expectations. The Boston Globe preseason rankings had put the team squarely at fifteenth place, a ranking the boys have proven folly by beating the supposed number two, Westford Academy, earlier this season. Last season, the boy’s team had no seniors, meaning that the previous team continues on into this year with tight personal bonds. Captain Jacob Bronstein ’24, told the Register Forum, “Since we have all been on the same team for a few years now, we know how to work best with each other and make the most of every moment.” This year’s dark horse, the Cambridge boys, has been dominant throughout. With a strong lineup of talented runners, they have a legitimate chance at statewide success. Jacob Bronsetin reiterates the strength of the team, saying, “Our team is full of runners who are top in the state. This solid core is the strongest we’ve seen in years and seems like the perfect group.” Currently ranked fifth in the state by BayStateRunning, the boys cross country team continues their ascent in preparation for States on November 18th.
Although they started the preseason at different levels, the Cambridge teams are now frontrunners leading the standings for the cross-country season. Both the girls and boys share a strong team connection and the possibility of winning the state championship this year, so don’t miss the hype!
This article also appears in our October 2024 print edition.
