Kevin Wheelock breaks course record
Published in the October 9, 2015 edition
THE 2015 MHS boys’ cross country team may be their best team to date. At 4-0 and highly ranked in Massachusetts, Melrose looks to sweep the league once again. On Tuesday they beat a tough Wakefield team. (Donna Larsson photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — The Melrose Red Raider boys’ cross-country team increased their chances of an undefeated season and another league title after sweeping rival Wakefield on Tuesday at Greenwood Park in Stoneham by a score of 19-36. At 4-0 Melrose remains one of the toughest teams in the division and passing a critical test against a very strong Wakefield team cemented it.
Entering the contest, Wakefield was rated as the fourth seeded team in all of Massachusetts, two spaces ahead of Melrose who were now ranked sixth. Expect that ranking to shift.
Against the Warriors Melrose swept the top four spots, making it not much of a contest. Junior Kevin Wheelock continued his extraordinary season with a first place finish at 15:59, a course record at Greenwood. Behind him was junior Adam Cook at 16:34, Robbie Hanlon at 16:42 and Sean Conlan at 16:54. Wakefield took the 5-8 spots and Melrose’s Griffin Barris rounded off the top 10 for Melrose at 17:29.
On Sept. 29, the team also enjoyed a hard fought 34-21 win over a strong Burlington team. Kevin Wheelock and Adam Cook led the way finishing in 16:47 and 16:51 respectively. Burlington finished a 3rd spot, but Melrose got the next two spots as Sean Conlan, (17:26) and Robbie Hanlon (17:42) grabbed 4th and 5th. Burlington then took the next 3 spots before Griffin Barriss locked up the meet with a 9th place finish at 18:42. The deep Burlington team then captured the next 5 spots ahead of Melrose’s Kyle Thompson (19:18) and Will Hanlon (19:23) who finished in Melrose’s top 7.
“It was a solid win against a good team,” stated coach Kevin Allison.
Next week Melrose will host their last regular-season meet at Greenwood Park when they host Watertown at 3:30 p.m.
