The best of the best gathered for Saturday morning’s Northeastern Conference cross country championships at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. The Peabody boys (56 points) and Marblehead girls (46) escaped victorious.
Peabody’s Mohamed Lhassouani clocked in at third place (16:22), only trailing the Beverly duo of Charlie Boissler (1st – 15:48) and Jason Provost (2nd – 15:51). The versatility of the Tanners was on full display. Osama Mishal (11th – 16:55), Matthew McCusker (13th – 17:08), Aiden Trainor (14th – 17:12), and Jackson Guerriero (15th – 17:17) all crossed the finish line within 22 seconds of each other.
The Tanners concluded their conference campaign as Dunn Division and meet champions.
As for the Marblehead girls, Marrietta O’Connell won the race with a dynamic time of 18:37 – just a split second before Swampscott’s Annabelle Averett (18:38). Two fellow Magicians finished in the top 10: Sarah Munroe (5th – 19:11) and Norah Walsh (10th – 20:14).
Swampscott’s Atticus Jakious (16:27) and Simon Brown (16:35) finished fifth and sixth, respectively, among boys. Also in the top 10 were Marbleheaders Will Cruikshank (8th – 16:44) and Henrik Adams (9th – 16:46), as well as Swampscott’s Anthony Colella (10th – 16:51).
For the girls, Peabody’s Lauren Foley (19:11) and Marblehead’s Sarah Munroe (19:11) were top-five finishers. Ella Braz of the Tanners clocked in at eighth with a time of 20:01, while Marblehead’s Norah Walsh placed 10th in 20:14.
Team results (boys): Peabody (56 points), Swampscott (63), Marblehead (72), Masconomet (80), Beverly (84), Danvers (189), Salem (203), Winthrop (207), Saugus (276).
Team results (girls): Marblehead (46 points), Peabody (62), Danvers (75), Masconomet (82), Swampscott (115), Beverly (118), Salem (209).
CROSS COUNTRY
The Lynnfield girls (142 points) finished seventh of nine teams during Saturday’s Cape Ann League championships in Wrentham. Abby Lopez placed fifth with a time of 19:59, while Maeve Wertz (26th – 22:52) entered the top 30. On the boys’ side, Lynnfield (10th) finished last with 256 points. Nick Degennaro (43rd – 18:51), Rowan Bayer (45th – 18:58), and Jason Tran (48th – 19:05) led the Pioneers.
FOOTBALL
Whittier Tech 30
Lynn Tech 21
Despite strong performances from Jadiel Ortega and Eddie Lewis, Lynn Tech dropped to 4-2 after Saturday’s matinee at Manning Field. Whittier’s 22 first-half points proved to be the difference.
With a 15-point lead during the third quarter, a Whittier player hit Lynn Tech’s Anthony Brown from behind, causing Brown to land on his head during the tail-end of a punt return.
“Even though he was hit from behind and left in an ambulance, he went home from the hospital with his parents Saturday night and is doing OK,” said Tech coach James Runner.
As of Friday’s latest MIAA power rankings, the Tigers ranked No. 15 in Division 8.
BOYS SOCCER
Peabody 1
Billerica 1
In “a hard-fought battle between both teams,” Peabody settled for a home-field tie Saturday. Jason Decost recorded the equalizer in the second half, while Tanners Arthur Rocha, Thad Broughton, Marshal Simpson, and Jayden Lopez played strong games, according to coach Stan McKeen.
GIRLS SOCCER
St. Mary’s 4
Medford 0
The Spartans (9-5-2) cruised in enemy territory behind a hat-trick performance from Sophie Skabeikis. Olivia DiSessa also found the back of the net.
