MELROSE—The Melrose High boys’ cross country team pitched their second straight shutout as they beat Stoneham High 15-50 to improve to 2-2.
It was the team’s first home meet of the season and the first meet on their new course. This summer, Middlesex League athletic directors decided that the old course had to be made safer so the course has been altered.
The boys handled the new course very well as they grabbed the first 7 spots against Stoneham. Junior captain Caleb Barnes continued his stellar season finishing 1st in 17:55, which is the new course record. Second went to sophomore Adam Caldwell who finished in 18:28. Close behind were John Strong, 18:33, Ben Dugan, 18:47, and co-captain Jonah Tully, 18:57.
Sixth place went to Jad Jamaleddine, 19:43, and Billy Oldham rounded out the top 7 and closed the scoring with a time of 20:05.
Also running well were Emerson Blanchard, 20:24, Anderson Ji, 20:57, Andre Bancu, 21:39, Frost Drogan, 21:59, Harrison Lee, 23:01, Grady Kamosa, 24:21, Aiden Manning, 24:37, and Harrison Brown, 25:35.
The team had two new runners finish the rugged course also. Liam Pham, 30:28, and Bennet McGravey-VanLauwe, 36:32 had great efforts.
Coach Kevin Allison was pleased with the result. “It was another solid win. The team continued to show their depth and I know this team wants to keep this winning streak going. They did a great job on this new, challenging course.”
The team will next compete at the Bay State Invitational in Devens this Saturday.
