Members of the Westfield High School girls cross country team stand alongside their head coach Mike Rowbotham, far left, on the final day of the regular season Wednesday at Stanley Park. The Bombers prepared for the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference championships by taking down the Amherst Hurricanes, 15-46. (Submitted photo)
WESTFIELD – It was the beginning of the end for the Westfield High School girls cross country team.
On Wednesday, Westfield defeated previously undefeated Amherst 15-46 at Stanley Park in the final dual meet of the regular season. The meet had originally been scheduled for Oct. 23 but was postponed.
The meet put the Bombers’ training regimen for the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic championship on a brief pause.
Westfield seniors Anna Stewart, manager Moira McDonald, and senior captains Sarah Grobe, Mia McDonald and Sophie Gronbeck.
“Chilly temperatures and a light rain at race time put a damper on the celebration, but did not slow the Bombers as most logged very good times,” Westfield girls cross country coach Mike Rowbotham said.
Westfield all but swept the top scoring positions with Gronbeck first (20:11), followed by teammates Makenzie Ritchie (22:16), Mia McDonald (22:42), Stewart (23:53), Nicole Servetnik (24:47) and Grobe (24:57, season best) as the top six finishers overall.
Westfield freshman Katie Burzynski followed the first four Amherst finishers, right on their heels with a season best 26:46 and claiming the rare second displacement point position. Freshman Abby Fraser recorded a season best time of 29:05.
Westfield’s Sophia Taglieri (26:52), Shaunna Feyre (26:55) and Angela Hinck (26:59) turned in noteworthy performances, each just a few seconds off their season bests.
Westfield finishes the regular season 6-4. Next up for the Bombers: the PVIAC championship Saturday at Stanley Park. The varsity girls’ race begins at 3 p.m., followed by the boys’ race at 4. – Mike Rowbotham contributed to this report
GYMNASTICS
Bombers return to winning ways
Westfield 131.75, Hampshire 128.425, Agawam 124.425
Order was restored on the Western Mass high school gymnastics scene as Westfield posted a sweep of Hampshire and Agawam Wednesday.
Kaelyn Matuszczak (vault, 8.25), Kylie Liptak (uneven bars, 8.825), and Mairead Hagan (balance beam, 8.5) posted first-place finishes on their respective events for Westfield. Hagan also finished second all-around (33.35).
