Hirsch, O’Shea shine at Invitational
Published in the September 25, 2015 edition
THE MELROSE Lady Raider cross country team beat Reading for a 1-0 start to the season. (Donna Larsson photo)
MELROSE — The Melrose girls’ cross-country team started their season off to a flawless 1-0 start after an exciting and close 27-30 win over Reading on Sept. 17.
Senior captain Elizabeth Hirsch placed first for Melrose, a continuous result in her long, outstanding career. Her time was 19:26. Melrose sophomore Tara O’Shea finished next with a career-best 21:36. Reading placed third and fourth but Melrose captain Meghan Cincotta grabbed fifth in 23:16. Reading took the next spot but Melrose sophomore Mykayla Olwert was seventh in her first Melrose meet running in 24:07. Reading took the next four spots but Melrose’s Holly Moore finished 12th to close the scoring and secure the narrow victory.
“It was a great victory for us,” stated Melrose coach Suzanne Corbett. “Reading is a quality team and beating them is never easy. It was a nice way to start our season.”
On Saturday the team ventured to Lakeville for the Big Wave Invitational. Melrose’s Tara O’Shea proved she is one of the top young runners in the region as she won the Freshman-Sophomore meet and led the girls to their overall fourth place finish. Also finishing high in the standings were Mykayla Olwert (17th) and Holly Moore (18th). Other runners who met the challenge of the course and the warm, summer morning were Nicola Tysall and Emily Healy.
In the varsity race Elizabeth Hirsch surged in the second half of the race and nearly won the meet but settled for an impressive third in a contingent of hundreds with a time of 16:41. Lydia Gyurina was next for Melrose finishing 18th in 19:26, followed by Meghan Cincotta who was 24th in 19:49. Also running well in the varsity race was Courtney Murphy, Sam Pashoian, Jennifer Cook, Danielle Curran, Katie Perry and Josie Coyne.
The team will try to continue its winning ways as they face Wilmington this Thursday in Wilmington (post deadline).
