a tough Melrose team opens season Sept. 18

Published in the September 14, 2018 edition

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The Melrose High girls’ cross country team is primed for a quick start to the season when they travel to Lexington on Sept. 18 to kick off their 2018 campaign. Melrose is coming off a very strong 4-1 season in 2017 and hope to be poised once again to capture it. 

Coach Nick Tuccinardi has high hopes for his squad. “We come back with big numbers this year. We had 28 girls last season, this year we have 41. It’s exciting for the program. We have a reputation as being a welcoming team with opportunities for everyone. And I’m excited to see how some of our new runners will fare this year.” 

Leading the pack are senior captains Sarah Mackowski, Nicola Tysall and Emily Healey, who have many years experience on the team. Says the coach, “They’ve been terrific for us, leading captains practices and keeping the team together on the off season. Our younger runners look up to them.”

Returning athletes include Alex Cotugno, Katie Duffy, Ashley Palmer, Annie Kavanaugh and senior Kate Bidgood. “This is a great group of runners who only make each other better,” says the coach. One promising freshman, Charlotte Tysall, is poised to emerge from the pack. “Watch out for her,” he predicts.

Their pre-season started in the midst of a heat wave, but after nearly three weeks of practice, they anxious to get started. “I’m excited to get official times in the books so we can get a sense of where our runners stack up. Because the Middlesex is one of the toughest leagues, but we always compete strong against them.” 

Indeed, for the last two years Melrose has gone 4-1 in the Middlesex Freedom league, and this time they want to capture it. 

“Championships are won in June and July,” says the coach. “The girls have worked really hard in the off season. Each year the league is up for grabs. But we’ve been knocking on the door.”  

This year, Melrose is aided in assistant coach duties by Shannon Kane, who trains many of these runners during the winter and spring season as MHS track coach. Says the coach, “We’re thrilled to have Shannon with us and so are the girls.” 

Melrose looks to put a win on the board when they travel to Lexington on Sept. 18 for their first meet of the season.