THE WMHS girls’ cross country team took 7th overall at the Massachusetts Div. 2 All-State Championship meet in Wrentham on Saturday. Pictured from left to right are Wakefield’s seven competitors, Grace Brackett, Devon Jellison, Alexa Yianacopolus, Sammy Seabury, Maggie Leone, Julia Welch, Charlotte O’Neil and head coach Karen Barrett. (Courtesy Photo)
Sammy Seabury sets new record with 2nd place finish
WRENTHAM — The Wakefield High girls’ cross country team took 7th overall out of 23 teams in the Div. 2 All-State Championship meet held at the Wrentham Developmental Center on Saturday, one week after the Warriors won the Div. 2A State Championship.
“We had a fantastic showing at the All State meet,” said head coach Karen Barrett. “As a team, our goal was to finish in the top 10 and beat Wilmington and Melrose. We accomplished that.”
Wakefield, Melrose and Wilmington split the Middlesex League’s Freedom Division crown equally this season. The Red Raiders finished 12th overall while the Wildcats were 9th.
The task was made even more impressive as the Warriors were without their number two runner, Maddie Nett who was out with an injury.
Wakefield’s number one runner, senior captain Sammy Seabury, picked up her team with an incredible time of 17:55, good for 2nd place overall.
“It was an unbelievably fast time,” said Barrett. “No Wakefield girl has ever come close to running that time on the Wrentham course.”
Seabury’s goal at the beginning of the season was to break 19 minutes on the Wrentham course. She far exceeded that goal, running nearly a full minute faster than her last race on the course and setting a new school record.
Seabury was favored to come in 3rd place at All-States. Carmen Luisi, the favorite from Holliston, went out extremely fast with her teammate Maggie Kuchman. Seabury and Molly Lashley from Whitinsville Christian were behind them for about 2 miles. Lashley was favored to finish 2nd.
“Sammy pulled away from both the 2nd and 3rd runners at about 2 miles,” said Barrett. “She continued to close in on Luisi and gave it a great effort to finish with an amazing time of 17:55.” Luisi finished at 17:45.
“Sammy has not had that kind of competition all season,” said Barrett. “She raced unbelievably and I could not be prouder of her. She has had the most amazing season of any athlete I have ever coached in my 25 years.”
SAMMY SEABURY left it all on the course in her last cross country race as a Warrior on Saturday. The senior captain set a new school record with a time of 17:55 in Wrentham to get 2nd overall at the D2 All-State Meet. Seabury’s incredible senior season included 1st place finishes in six dual meets, the Twilight Invitational, Bay State Invitational and the Div. 2A state meet to lead Wakefield to a state championship. (Courtesy Photo)
Charlotte O’Neil was Wakefield’s next finisher with a PR of 20:21.
“It was a really impressive race for her,” said Barrett.
Wakefield’s third runner was Lexi Yianacopolus who also ran a PR of 20:33.
“Lexi ran a great race,” said Barrett.
Maggie Leone was also impressive for the Warriors running a PR of 20:43, 4th on the team.
Julia Welch, who didn’t run the previous week due to an injury, was cleared to compete and stepped up with a PR of 20:53 to finish off the scoring as Wakefield’s 5th runner.
Grace Brackett and Devon Jellison were the 6th and 7th runners.
“They both ran fantastic races and beat the Wilmington and Melrose 6th and 7th runners,” said Barrett.
Brackett ran a PR of 21:43 and Jellison had a 21:56.
“This was such an amazing team effort,” said Barrett. “They gave it everything they had for the second week in a row. Sometimes it’s difficult to stay mentally tough after such an amazing win last weekend but my team did just that.
“Everyone went out and did their job. As a coach, I always say the only thing I ask is that you give me 100 percent every day at practice and in competitions. They all did that and it was so fulfilling to see their hard work pay off for them. This was an amazing season for us.”
