Both the varsity and the JV teams came away from the Parents' Day race against Governor's Academy with decisive victories.  The varsity team remains the only undefeated boys' cross country team in the ISL, with an 11-0 record.
 
On Saturday morning, the boys were confident of a win over the Byfield harriers, but news that leading runner Viraj Deokar '16 had sprained his ankle during the previous night sent the coaches back to the drawing board.  Team co-captains Lucas Estrada '15 and Miles Petrie '15 would have to pick up their paces in order to insure that a couple of strong competitors from Governor's would pose no threat, and Will Fletcher, still dealing with some muscle soreness and hoping to sit out this race, was called back into action to stave off any last-minute challengers from Governor's.
 
The captains came through beautifully, as always, supported by the stalwart Gavin Fujimori '16.  Lucas won the race in a personal-best time of 16:50, followed by Gavin at 17:04 and Miles at 17:20.  Only one Governor's runner, the always dangerous McLain Sherrin, was able to break into the Middlesex vanguard, placing 3^rd, just ahead of Petrie.  Sealing the deal for Middlesex, however, was explosive newcomer Gabe Smith '15, who took 5^th position in the race, well ahead of Governor's #2.  Thus, four Middlesex runners were among the top five finishers.
 
Since this was a dual meet, both varsity and JV teams ran together in one race.  This arrangement gave Matt Kafker '15, usually our top jv runner, a chance to ascend the ranks with a stunning performance and place as our 5^th varsity runner in the scoring.  Like many of the other seniors, cognizant that this would be their last home race, Matt strove to achieve a new personal best time.  He, along with Matt McKenna '15 and the aforementioned Estrada, Petrie, and Smith, achieved their goals impressively.
 
Eric Dolce '15 emerged as the winner of the JV race, followed by Ryan Ewing '17 and Rock Hoffman '16, completing the first three places and guaranteeing the victory.  Bouncing back from a lackluster performance at Nobles on Wednesday, Eric Gourdon '16 finished just a few steps behind Hoffman, in 4^th place, and within haling distance of the 20-minute mark.   Jack Pelletier '17 took 5^th for Middlesex.
 
Three opponents remain to be met – Roxbury Latin, Milton Academy, and Rivers School - and the first two have front-runners that are among the best in the League.  Middlesex will face them on Friday, with Rivers hosting, on the delightfully fast course at the Elm Bank Reservation in Wellesley.