Published in the November 1, 2017 edition
JUNIOR Brie Passatempo finished third during the girls’ cross country team’s 29-30 victory over North Reading Oct. 24. Passatempo set a new personal best with a time of 19:23. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The cross country teams concluded the regular season last week.
The girls’ cross country team (3-7) narrowly defeated North Reading 29-30 on Oct. 24. The team with the lowest score in cross country wins.
Junior Brie Passatempo set a new personal best with her third place finish in the meet (19:23). Sophomore Elizabeth St. Andre finished fifth overall (21:03). Senior captain Eliza Brooks finished sixth during the meet (21:05).
Sophomore Class Shone earned a seventh place finish (21:36). Captain Annie Olsen finished eighth overall (21:40). Senior Sarah Bartolotta secured a ninth place finish (22:00). Junior Kiera Rothwell finished 10th overall (22:04). Junior Lucy Madden finished 11th during the meet (22:12).
“The strength of our pack should really help us in states,” said Pioneers head coach Joe DiBiase.
Boys’ results
The boys’ team (3-7) fell 34-22 to North Reading.
Freshman John Astrofsky finished fourth during the meet and set a new personal best (17:42).
“John is continuing his superb season,” said DiBiase. “He’s the best freshman we have had in a few years.”
Junior Joe Fabrizio set a new personal best with his fifth place finish (17:42). Senior Colin Lamusta also set a personal best with his sixth place finish (17:46). Junior Stephen Dwyer finished eighth during the meet (18:02).
Senior Anthony Wilkinson finished 11th during the meet (18:11). Sophomore Sam Pifko secured a 12th place finish during the meet (18:12).
“We were without our top runner, Ryan Iapicca, who was unfortunately out with a lower leg injury,” said DiBiase. “It was tough not having him there because of course he would have loved to end the regular season by beating our rival, but it was not to be. Hopefully he will be back for states.”
CAL results
The cross country teams competed in the Cape Ann League Meet at Bradley Palmer State Park in Topsfield on Saturday, Oct. 28.
“It was a tough CAL Meet for the team,” said DiBiase. “We typically have a little trouble on Bradley Palmer’s rugged course. Our training in Lynnfield is mostly on the roads and the new turf fields, so we hit these grassy and rocky courses and slow up a bit. Having said that, it was a beautiful day weather wise.”
The girls’ team finished ninth during the meet.
Passatempo finished 15th overall (21:00).
“Brie was hoping for a top 10 finish, but the field went out very fast and she was working hard the entire race to get in that top group,” said DiBiase. “There is no doubt in my mind she will be in the top pack of runners at the divisional races Nov. 11.”
St Andre finished 23rd overall (21:27). Brooks secured a 46th place finish (22:44).
“The girls team right now is healthy and hopefully peaking in time for states,” said DiBiase. “We are looking forward to a good couple of weeks to heal up and train hard for states.”
The boys’ team finished 11th during the meet. The Pioneers were missing Iapicca and Astrofsky due to leg injuries, but DiBiase is cautiously optimistic they will return this week.
Additionally, the Pioneers were missing three other runners due to prior commitments.
Fabrizio finished 48th overall during the CAL Meet (18:44). Pifko finished 54th overall (19:09). Dwyer finished 65th overall (19:47).
DiBiase thanked freshman Mike Dreher, junior Justin Nardella and senior Andrew Seelig for moving up from the JV team and filling in for the varsity team.
