Warriors improve their course at the Wrentham Developmental Center course
WRENTHAM — Another day with less than ideal conditions didn’t stop the Wakefield Memorial High boys’ cross country team from having some outstanding performances on Saturday morning in the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Invitational Meet at the Wrentham Developmental Center.
There were separate races for the freshman, sophomores and a combined junior/senior race. With no seniors competing, the Warriors were able to see what the future holds for the program.
The freshmen had a third place team showing in the 3K race behind the efforts of Matt Greatorex (seventh at 10:42), Robert Shaw (eighth in a time of 10:43), Tommy Lucey (18th, 11:10), Sam Morey (72nd at 12:27), Riley Brackett (73rd at 12:28) and Nolan Collins (86th in a time of 12:52).
After a season of strong performances, Greatorex and Shaw have each earned themselves a spot on the varsity team for this weekend’s Eastern Mass. State Championship back at the Wrentham Developmental Center.
The sophomores had an equally impressive day placing second.
Jack Stevens and Ryan Sullivan had superb days placing 13th and 15th with times of 17:41 and 17:53.
John Stanfield and Jackson Kehoe also had great days as they placed 27th and 28th with times of 18:39 and 18:40.
Michael Frezza allowed the Warriors to post a team score with his much improved race placing 67th out of the 144 sophomores. Frezza clocked in at 19:54.
Stevens and Sullivan will also be running in the Eastern Mass. championship meet this Saturday.
In the largest race of the day, seven juniors raced in the combined Junior/Senior race and Wakefield placed eighth among 29 teams and competed without its number one runner, Jackson Gallagher.
There were 234 individual runners in the 5K race.
Alec Rodgers had a good day placing 24th in a time of 17:27.
Richie Custodio placed 35th overall at 17:51, Alex Guerriero placed 77th at 18:43, Chris Skeldon was 83rd in a time of 18:48, Jeremy Keegan was 89th at 18:58 and Tyler Whipple was 119th in a time of 19:27.
Rodgers and Custodio, along with Gallagher, will be running in the Eastern Mass. Championship as well.
“All the boys had dramatic improvements from our race on the same course a month ago and even bigger improvements from last year,” said Coach Perry Pappas. “After a season of strong workouts, the boys are running their best when it counts and are shooting for a qualifying spot at All-States.
The Eastern Massachusetts state championship meet will be held this weekend at the Wrentham Developmental Center. The seven boys are running in the Div. 4 race at 9 a.m. The Warriors will be represented by Gallagher, Rodgers, Custodio, Stevens, Sullivan, Greatorex and Shaw. The alternates are Skeldon, Keegan, Whipple and Guerriero.
