finishes 5-1 as they await statewide races

Published November 2, 2018

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The Melrose High School girls’ cross country team finished a nearly-perfect regular season with a 15-50 sweep of Wilmington on Tuesday, October 23 at Greenwood Park in Stoneham, a day that marked Senior Day. Melrose finishes in the league 5-1 as they await statewide competition. 

Melrose couldn’t have competed any better against Wilmington with a clean sweep at the top with Charlotte Tysall nabbing first at 19:25, followed in order by teammates Katie Duffy, Kate Bidgood, Alex Cotugno, Jane Harrington, Mollie Lytje and Jenna Fracasso.

Melrose also competed in the Middlesex League Meet on Monday at the Woburn Country Club. The varsity race saw Melrose place 7th among Middlesex Large and Small competitors, including Wakefield who was the only team to top Melrose this season when they edged the Lady Raiders after a flukey trail miscue.

THE MELROSE Lady Raider cross country team nearly swept the Freedom League this season. (Donna Larsson photo)

Those leading in the varsity race were Alex Cotugno (Melrose’s best time at 20:21) She was followed by Leslie Means and Katharine Duffy, Lilian Lawler, Alice Blaise, Jane Harrington and Nicola Tysall. The JV race race saw runs from Julianne Murthy, Ashley Palmer, Cecilia Murphy, Annie Kavanaugh, Marissa Zelten, Emily Healey, Ciara Holmberg, Maddy Lyons, Sarina Peters, Victoria Ackerman, Becka Hamberg, Abby Champoux, Catherine Thimble, Olivia Boomhower, Sara Mackowski, Joanna Hamilton and Maeze Tarpey. 

In the freshman race, Charlotte Tysall continued her incredible season by placing first in the 3K freshman race in a time of 11:07. She was in great company with teammates Toby Russell (35th) and Rachel Brooks (47th) behind her. 

Melrose will now await their statewide competition when they take part in the EMass Finals on Nov. 10 in Wrentham. 

Final Freedom league standings

Wakefield 5-1-0  5-0-0

Melrose   5-1-0  4-1-0

Stoneham 3-3-0  3-2-0

Wilmington 2-4-0 2-3-0

Watertown 1-5-0 1-4-0

Burlington 0-6-0  0-5-0