Published in the September 28, 2018 edition
By JENNIFER GENTILE
LEXINGTON—The Melrose Lady Raider cross country team is showing no mercy in their early season, opening up undefeated at 2-0 with wins over Div. 1 power Lexington on Thursday, Sept. 20 and then sweeping Freedom rival Burlington on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Add a top-notch performance at the Bob MacDougal Invitational on Sept. 15 and Melrose is proving to be a formidable opponent in the league and division.
THE MELROSE High girl’s cross country team is off to a terrific start, unbeaten at 2-0. Pictured is runner Alex Cotugno. (Donna Larsson photo)
Melrose opened their dual meet season on Sept. 20 on the road in Lexington and swept the field by taking the top 7 spots, with two promising freshmen leading the pack. Charlotte Tysall and Mollie Lytje placed first and second respectively, outrunning Lexington competition. Lysall’s time of 20:02 was far and away beyond Lexington’s top runner Lauren Sterne, who came in at 22:22. Melrose senior captains Kate Bidgood and Alex Cotugno placed third and fourth, while sophomore Lilian Lawlor impressed with a time of 22:38. The outcome was quite convincing for Melrose, who hasn’t picked up a win over Lexington in several years. Coach Nick Tuccinardi was pleased with their performance, though he indicated that Lexington was down a few runners.
“Lexington didn’t have some of their stronger runners but we ran 2 points off a perfect score which I’m really happy about. I think we have a great blend of experienced runners like Alex and Kate, and these terrific younger runners who are coming up with great times.”
That perfect score was attained on Sept. 25 when Melrose hosted Burlington at home in torrential rain. Melrose won in a flawless performance, 15-45, by sweeping all ten first spots.That they managed such performances in sopping conditions shows the team’s grit. Burlington has played spoiler to many of Melrose’s league title attempts in the past, so to achieve this was groundbreaking.
“This is the first time in many, many years that we have swept Burlington,” says the coach.
Coming in first was Charlotte Lysall, followed by Kate Bidgood, Alex Cotugno, Jane Harrington and Ashley Palmer, all of whom earned points for Melrose. To run through rough terrain in the blinding rain was a challenge for both teams, no doubt. But Melrose had adequately prepared for the trails, mapping out areas that were passable. “It was definitely the worst weather we’ve ever run in,” says the coach. “Some of the trails were flooded, but we prepared the kids in advance. I told the kids after the race, go home, recover and hydrate.”
Melrose’s top two runners Tysall and Lytje have made an impact in Melrose’s early season. The duo placed first and second, in that order, in the freshmen race at the Robert MacDougal 3K Invitational on Sept. 15. Tysall’s time of 11:44 blew out the competition and following right behind her was Lytje at 12:42. In the open race, Kate Bidgood placed 11th at 12:28. Junior Alex Cutugno was 13th at 12:41. Melrose placed third behind Lincoln Sudbury and Lowell.
Seeing success among both upperclassmen or underclassmen has coach Tuccinardi beyond optimistic for this fall. “We have a lot of youth with talent, plus experienced runners who know the league, know the courses. I’m very excited about what the future holds.”
Next on tap is mega-rival Wakefield, who will host Melrose at Beasley Track in Wakefield on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.
