Needham Girls Win! Brookline Boys Too Strong for Rockets. Amaya Breaks Course Record as Silver Lining.

And the girls are off!

Thursday September 27th the NHS Girls' XC team defeated a battered and bruised Brookline squad 16-43.  Heading into the race, the Warriors hoped to be bolstered by the return of their number two runner Charlotte Cole (back from an IT band injury) but seemed out of their comfort zone right from the start as Caroline Turner took the race out hard going through the first mile in 6:09 and towing the field along behind her.  By halfway, Turner, Margie Cullen and Katie Horton had established control of the race and looked to be running toward an inevitable win.  On the second lap, Sarah Armstrong and Julianna Donovan pushed hard and worked together to close the gap to their teammates making it a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Blue and Gold sweep.  Rachel Blaustein finished well too to pick up 8th place and run a season best time.

Margie Cullen pulls away from Jessica Lu.

Claire Connors running strong.

The boys suffered a disappointing loss to a perennially strong Brookline team that has not lost a dual meet in seven years.  Falling victims to the same tactics employed by their distaff teammates, the Rockets never seemed to settle in and compete against the Warriors.  After a slow first mile, Adrian Amaya and Tyler Hagen worked together to string out the Brookline pack but the damage had already been done as Tommy Kelley was the only other Needham runner in a sea of white and red.  Just past the two mile mark, Amaya surged to the front and would not be challenged again as he cruised in to win in 16:34 and establish a new course record in the process.  Meanwhile, Hagen continued the torrid pace and eventually kicked away from Brookline's number one Jesse Fajnzylber to make it a Needham 1-2.  But the depth of the Warriors was just too much for the Rockets as Brookline took the next five spots ultimately winning 25-34.

Derek Howes

Nathan Maynard

Jack Strollo

Full results can be found at: http://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/School.aspx?SchoolID=19349

Next week, Needham faces Newton North and Walpole which forecasts to be a battle on both sides.  The meet is at Cutler Park and is scheduled to begin with the junior varsity race at 4:00 p.m.

John Benner and race winner Adrian Amaya

Photos courtesy of Kim Benner