IT’S A snuggly tradition for the MHS girls cross country team to enjoy goat yoga during training season. It must be working, the team has now won 4 in the row. (courtesy photo)
Melrose now a league title contender
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High girls cross country team continues to prove they are a force in the league – and division – after clinching their fourth league win in a row to improve to 4-1 on the season and 4-0 in the Freedom League.
Their recent win over Burlington today now pits them in a Senior Night finale meet against Wakefield (4-0 Freedom) on October 22. The winner will take the Middlesex Freedom League and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Melrose started their winning ways October 1 on the road in Wilmington when they defeated the Wildcats by a score of 41-19. It represented Melrose third straight league win after victories over Watertown and Stoneham. It was nearly a clean sweep for Melrose as they took 7 of the top 10 spots.
Leading the pack was Melrose’s Reilly Powell in first, followed in order by Maizie Frakt (3rd), Naomi Brey (4th), Ella Ugino (5th), Violeta Rechea (6th), Zoe Audet (8th) and Kensington Ludlum (10th).
“We’ve really been focusing on being a high IQ running team,” says Melrose head coach Nick Tuccinardi. “Training with purpose and focus. I’m a big believer in ‘practice how you play’. Before our Stoneham meet we previewed the course. Before our Wilmington meet we did a track workout to simulate the finish at Wilmington, and prior to Burlington we worked on hill running.”
Details on the Burlington were not available at press time, but the team won’t face Wakefield until Oct. 22. Until then they will take part in some exciting meets, including this weekend’s Twilight Meet on Cape Cod, where they hope to collect some medals among the state’s best. They will also compete in the Catholic Memorial Invite the following Saturday.
Until then, the team would like to stay focused and healthy as they train. Says their coach, “I think like always at this point in the season sickness and injuries creep up. We have been trying to stay on top of that through prehab, good nutrition, and stretching but there’s always room for improvement.”
And off the field they are keeping busy in philanthropic efforts. The team completed their annual charity run “Miles for Meals” this past Friday. Team members collect pledges for each mile they run. The money then goes to local and international causes from The Food Drive in Melrose to UNICEF. This is a tradition that has gone for years and years, originally started by, and still facilitated by boys coach Kevin Allison.
