LYNN — Nearly 250 young athletes braved cold weather and a challenging course during the 11th Annual Massachusetts State Elementary Cross Country Championships, held on the 15th fairway of Gannon Municipal Golf Course and hosted by Lynn Parks & Recreation.
Katherine Studer of Abbot Elementary (Westford) broke the girls’ course and race records in the (grades) 1-5 championship race, finishing the 1.17-mile course in 7:09. The previous record of 7:42 was set in 2016.
St. Mary of the Annunciation (Danvers) captured the girls’ team title with a meet-record low score of 16 points, placing runners first, second, third, fourth, and sixth. Team members were Charlotte Maloy (8:17), Ava Marr (9:19), Amelia Reichmann (9:19), Leia Skerritt (9:56), and Elsie Bless (10:34).
The City of Lynn impressed as well. Top finishers were Marisol Ramirez of Lynn Woods (16th – 10:36), Sarhi Santiago of Cobbet (19th – 10:47), and Payton Lindquist of Drewicz (20th – 11:03).
In the girls’ K-3 race, Christalia Pike of Memorial (Upton) was 15 seconds shy of the 0.66-mile course record. Pike took first place with a 4:57 time. Riqualla Ferguson of Sewell-Anderson (5:21) and Willa McBee of Memorial (5:28) finished second and third, respectively.
On the boys’ side, Luke Porrazzo of Belmonte (Saugus) won the 1-5 championship in 7:25. Top local finishers included A.J. Diciero of Veterans (10th – 8:52), Justin Young Jr. of Shoemaker (14th – 9:03), Jack O’Connell of Lynn Woods (17th – 9:14), and Owen Candy of St. Pius (19th – 9:20).
Sparhawk Academy of Millis claimed the boys’ team championship with a record-low 16 points. The team included Davinci Degregorio (8:04), Benjamin Nunes (8:54), Soren Bishop (8:58), Jose-Maria Elekwach (8:58), and Arthur Tambe (9:07).
In the boys’ K-3 race, Callan Weber of Stony Hill (Wilbraham) narrowly missed the course record, finishing in 4:22. Top local finishers were St. Mary’s Santino Diciero (5th – 5:25) and Macio Paula (7th – 5:32).
