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Lynnfield defeats Ipswich 20-41 (Sept. 25)
Published September 25, 2024
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
GLOUCESTER — On Sept. 18, the Lynnfield High girls’ cross country team visited Manchester-Essex at Ravenswood Park in Gloucester.
The Pioneers ended up losing, 25-30, on a sunny, warm day to fall to 0-2 overall.
“We ran well early but they beat us out in that last half of a mile,” said Pioneers first-year head coach Liane Cook.
The Hornets captured the top three spots then the Pioneers took fourth through eighth place.
Gabby Bottaro was the first Pioneer to complete the 2.9 mile course as she placed fourth overall at 22.29. It was her second race that she came in first for the team as the senior co-captain did it against Amesbury the week before.
Senior captain Kaila George was fifth (22.55), senior Caitlin Buoniconti sixth (23.08), junior Abby Lopez seventh (23.29) and sophomore Maeve Wertz captured eighth (23:45).
Although they didn’t finish in the top five, junior April Sun at 26:21 and sophomore Karolena Gomez at 29:18 did accomplish personal-best times.
On Sept. 21, six Pioneers traveled to Wrentham to compete in the Frank Kelley Invitational on a rainy, cool day at the Wrentham Developmental Center.
All six girls ran in the 3K (1.86 miles) race in the small school division (there were separate races for each grade).
Lopez was the lone medalist (the top 25 each race) as she came in 25th in the junior race with a time of 13:24.
Shealyn Moore ran a 14:40 while Lily White had a time of 15:12.
Wertz finished at 14:26 while Sun had a time of 16:17 to round out the six times.
The Pioneers’ home opener will be on Sept. 25 as they host Ipswich at 4 p.m.
