…And they’re off and running at the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships Saturday at Stanley Park. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
WESTFIELD – Hampshire County dominated the field, claiming the top two spots in both the boys and girls races at the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference cross country championships Saturday at Stanley Park.
Northampton won the boys’ race, just ahead of Amherst; the Hurricanes took home gold in the girls portion of the event, beating out runners-up Blue Devils.
Northampton’s Tobias Lesperance and Simon LaClair finished 1-2 in the boys competition with times of 15:50.98 and 15:56.98, respectively.
Kaleb Cree cracked the top 20 with an 18th place overall finish for Westfield. Cree finished with a time of 16:58.68. Bombers’ Antonio Phaneuf placed 24th in 17:09.08.
Westfield finished ninth in the final team rankings.
GIRLS RESULTS: Pope Francis’ Emily Boutin crossed the finish line first in 17:57.94, well ahead of second-place finisher Sarah Ross, of Agawam (18:19.17). Northampton’s Mary Yount was third (18:56.45). Fellow Blue Devils’ teammates Naomi Andrew (9th, 20:37.94) , Saraphina Forman (11th, 20:42.24), Maggie Reade (12th, 20:47.80), and Abigail Andrews (14th, 20:50.28) all managed top 15 finishes.
Amherst’s Vivian Jacobs-Townsley (19:52.77), Tamar Byl-Brann (19:53.34) and Zada Forde (19:54.64) were 5-6-7. Hurricanes’ Maddie Shea placed 10th (20:41.71).
Westfield’s Margaret Philpott was the top Bomber. She was 32nd in 21:44.86. Her team placed 12th.
