THE NRHS boys’ cross country team took 18th as a squad at the Div. 2 State Championship Meet. (Gina Tammaro Photo)
Nadeau and Butler qualify for All-States
GARDNER — On a beautiful Saturday, November 13 at the Gardner Municipal Golf Course, the North Reading Cross Country team competed in the State Division 2 Championship meet and looked to finish with their best effort of the season.
The unforgiving course, of constant rolling hills and soggy ground from the storm the night before, provided extra resistance that the runners needed to navigate in order to run their best race. Once again led by CAL Open Champion and league MVP Aidan Nadeau and CAL All Star Annalise Butler, the Hornets gave all they could to compete on the strongest stage of competition they faced all season.
Nadeau places 8th to make All States; boys’ team finishes 18th
Aidan Nadeau continued his excellent Senior XC season as he took 8th overall in the race in a time of 17:19.5, which qualified him for the All-State Division 2 final next Saturday at Wrentham. Nadeau, fresh off his CAL Open championship victory, was strong throughout the race.
“This course is a constant change of elevation and footing,” said Hornet head coach Ryan Spinney. “This is a test of strength, stamina and heart as it is the hardest divisional course in the state, in my opinion. Both our teams did very well in staying strong and focused throughout the race. Aidan had to stay in contact with the front pack and that group is elite. He did a great job in fighting all the way in to qualify for next week.”
Junior Nick Fabrizio took 62nd overall for the Hornets in a time of 19:04.9. Senior co-captain Anthony Petrosino finished his HS Cross Country career with a solid run of 19:58.8, which placed him 109th overall. Rounding out the Hornets who competed were Junior Rocco Tammaro (132nd place, 20:49.0), Junior Ben Meier (154th, 22:00.3), Sophomore Dylan Zecher (157th, 22:27.0) and Junior Shane Hanson (168th, 23:33.8).
The boys team finished 18th overall out of 25 teams with a total point score of 465 points. Newburyport won the meet with a total score of 66 points.
“We have a lot to be proud of from this race and this season,” said Spinney. “We have a strong group coming back with state level competition experience and they know the type of commitment it will take to be ready for next fall in order to move up on the scoresheet.”
Butler runs strong 2nd half to take 20th for All-State Qualifier; girls finish 22nd
Junior co-captain Annalise Butler continued her impressive campaign as she closed hard in the 2nd half of the race to finish 20th overall in a time of 21:07.2 and with that effort, she qualified to compete at the Division 2 All-State final next week at Wrentham.
“Annalise ran such a smart and tough race today,” said Spinney. “She was around 50th overall during the first mile of the race and then just started moving up as other competitors struggled on the second loop. She finished the race catching at least 15 competitors in the last 800 meters or so and it was that tenacity that pushed her into next week’s all-state final. She has grown so much as a competitor this fall and it is a joy to watch how she races.”
The other Hornet competitors included Freshman Hayden MacLellan (105th, 24:28.7), Senior co-captain Nicole Steinmeyer (113th, 24:55.1), Sophomore Allison Koenig (139th, 26:40.0) and Sophomore Stella DaSilva (140th, 26:53.0). The girls team finished 22nd out of 23 teams but don’t read too much into that, said Spinney.
“We will have four out of the five girls who competed today back next year and they have learned what it feels like to compete at a higher level. We had some illness and injury bugs that didn’t help our team score today as well but we will be back next year and will be a team to compete with.”
Aidan and Annalise will be competing on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Wrentham Developmental Center in the Division 2 All-State Final.
