NORTHAMPTON – The Westfield High School boys’ cross country team is about to put its fans into cardiac arrest.
One week ago, Westfield clipped Longmeadow in a thriller, 28-29. The Bombers were on the opposite end of that same score though Tuesday, losing a heartbreaker to Northampton.
It was just as rewarding.
Westfield was once again outpaced by Ben Doiron (16:17), who has placed first in appearance this season. Doiron’s time was the second fastest ever recorded at Northampton’s Community Gardens. The course record is 16:01.
Doiron appears poised to enter the Western Massachusetts Championships as the favorite to take home an individual title, according to his coaches.
Cheyenne Grabiec (16:54), who recently recovered from a shin injury, battled Northampton’s Aidan Gilson (16:53), eventually placing third overall, while breaking the 17-minute barrier. Both now hold a top 20 fastest time ever ran at Northampton.
Freshman sensation Gabe Piepergerdes (17:54) also impressed, placing sixth overall, after edging teammate Colin Irujo on the course’s final hill. Irujo came in right behind the freshman, placing seventh overall in 17:56.
Brian Davis benefited from the hilly course, placing 12th overall for Westfield.
Davis, a junior, valiantly broke away from a pack of Westfield runners at the 2-mile point, and successfully tackled the course’s final challenges.
After going through the 2-mile marker at 11:56, Davis gradually pulled away from other runners, and held off every Northampton competitor near him.
Also of note for the Bomber boys was senior (captain) Liam Flaherty, who closed a large gap between he and two Northampton runners over the race’s final stretches. With about 200 meters remaining, Flaherty (13th) kicked it into another gear, besting two Blue Devil runners at the finish.
Westfield sophomore Matt Roy had a phenomenal race, placing 16th overall, while setting a personal record (19:18) on a difficult course.
Westfield will celebrate senior night at Stanley Park next week against a top-ranked Amherst team. After that, the Bombers will head into the postseason, racing at the PVIAC race (also held at Stanley Park), then the Western Mass. Championship at historic Northfield Mountain.
St. Mary 28, Granby 29; St. Mary 21, Pioneer Valley Regional 34
Billy Carroll and James Marasi placed 1-2 overall, leading the St. Mary boys’ cross country team to a pair of victories Tuesday at Dufresne Park.
Saints’ Jake Neilsen placed fourth overall, followed by teammates Luke Dengler (11th) and Colin Marshall (19th).
