CROTEAU
NORTHFIELD – The Westfield High School boys’ cross country team gave fans, family, and friends a taste of things to come at the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference championships a week ago at Stanley Park.
On Saturday, the Bombers swept the top three spots – only the names swapping position – to claim the Western Massachusetts Division I championship at Northfield Mountain.
Westfield won the title with 40 points, followed by Amherst (127 points) and Pittsfield (130). Ludlow (138), Minnechaug (150), Northampton (157), Holyoke (159), Wahconah (220), East Longmeadow (256), and Longmeadow (272) rounded out the top 10.
Senior Blake Croteau, who finished third at Stanley Park, won the WMass D1 race with a time of 16:26.02. Seniors Tim Dostie and Matt Jacobson were second (16:30.63) and third (16:34.33), respectively. Dostie was the PVIAC winner at Stanley Park.
“They’re like dark socks – they’re all interchangeable,” Westfield coach Dana Geis said as his top three runners prepared for one of their biggest races of their lives.
If the three athletes were ever dark horses, they’ve become quite recognizable these days. Croteau won three dual meets this season, Dostie won four, and Jacobson finished second twice. The Bombers’ top three favorites have been within 10 seconds all season long.
But other Westfield races showed promise in helping the team lock down the prize.
Sophomore Ben Doiron finished 14th overall for Westfield in 17:36.23. Teammate Artie Cruz, a senior, was 20th (17:42.92).
Cheyenne Grabiec (48th, 18:38.55) and Colin Irujo (59th, 18:55.84) also managed to crack the top 60 for the Bombers.
D2 UPDATE: Junior Joe Orlowsky was the top Gateway runner, finishing the Division II race in 29th place (18:44). Chris Hanechak was 36th overall for the Gators in 19:07.92.
Southwick sophomore Chris Roy finished 30th (18:45.19).
