BY JERRY LIPTAK
Generally, in the postseason world of “survive and advance,” there is no place for inter-team camaraderie. Cross country is an exception, and proof was on competitors’ faces after the Nov. 4 Meet of Champions at Mines Falls, on the campus of Nashua South High.
True, no Neighborhood athlete could see the determined expressions of Hanover’s Georgia Griffin and ConVal’s Alex McGrath, runaway winners of the girls and boys races, respectively.
Griffin easily set a new state record, running literally over a river and through the woods in 17 minutes, 28 seconds, more than one minute ahead of her closest pursuer. McGrath crossed the finish line nearly one-half minute ahead of Central’s Craig Brown and Cory Sinotte, who took second and third, respectively.
Once the races concluded, the athletes disregarded school colors and sought out fellow competitors.
“We’re all really close,” said West High junior Kelsey Hunt, a Bedford resident who finished fifth in 18:39. “Everyone’s so nice and down to earth.”
She first talked with Keene’s Eliza Webber, who had edged Hunt for fourth place by .5 seconds.
Then Hunt hugged Memorial’s Jacquelyn Dussault, who outsprinted Hunt’s determined teammate, Kristin Johnson, by .9 seconds to finish 25th.
Dussault was the final individual to earn a trip to the New England Regionals on Saturday, Nov. 10, at Twin Brook Recreation Facility in Cumberland, Maine.
Hunt and Dussault join Memorial’s Holly Banaian, seventh at the M of C; Central’s Arianna Vailas, eighth; and Central’s Alexandra Conway, 22nd, as individual qualifiers.
Among 16 girls teams, Central placed third in the competition and Memorial took fifth. Both earned team entrance to New Englands.
Hopkinton, the dominant Class M champions competing with much larger Class L and Class I schools at the M of C, missed a team invitation by less than 30 seconds, finishing seventh behind Exeter.
The Bishop Guertin team was the lone boys group with Neighborhood connections to reach New Englands. The Cardinals took sixth among 18 squads.
However, in addition to Central’s Brown and Sinotte, Bishop Guertin sophomores Francis Hernandez and Joey Jourdain, fifth and ninth; Concord’s Christian Clark, 19th; and Goffstown High’s Sean Colligan, 23rd, qualified to compete individually in Maine.
“It’s a much more friendly sport,” said Colligan, a senior who overcame a late-summer ankle injury and wants to place among the top 100 finishers at New Englands, an improvement on his 2006 regional effort. “You’re looking to do your best, not necessarily beat anyone else’s time.”
Indeed, Hunt, Dussault and Colligan spoke both of their admiration for the race winners and the futility in trying to match their torrid paces.
Central girls
Amelia McCue, Abby Mosca and Kaleigh Campbell completed the team scoring for the very young Little Green; each of the five point-scorers is either a freshman or sophomore.
Seniors Lauren Ashby and Hannah Dow provided depth to Central’s group.
Memorial girls
Stephanie Kearsley, Khrysta Brewster and Renee Fredette completed the Crusaders’ score. Aimee Trudel and Brianna Enderson also competed.
Bishop Guertin girls
Courtney Veilleux, a sophomore, led BG to eighth place. Senior Chrissy Supino, freshman Hannah Moriarty, senior Celeste Kmiotek and sophomore Kaitlin Allen contributed to the Cardinals’ score.
Freshman Morgan Enos and sophomore Sarah Goodnow complete BG’s roster.
Bishop Guertin boys
Trent Fontanella, a sophomore; Jeffrey Warren, a junior; and Justin Rau, a senior, joined front-runners Hernandez and Jourdain in leading BG to New Englands. Senior Steve Migliore and freshman Connor Husousky also completed the 5k course for the Cardinals.
Neighborhood individuals
Trinity senior Daniel Dunn finished 41st at the Meet of Champions. Derryfield sophomore Will Keller took 115th among 147 male entrants.
Trinity junior Samantha Goodnow was 62nd among 139 female entrants.