On a gorgeous October afternoon (which also happened to be Friday the 13th, no less), the Zebras of Middlesex faced the Zebras of Groton at home for our annual match-up. With the leaves starting to turn brilliant colors on the tree-lined course, 33 of our mightiest zebras (a team record for participation numbers!) raced well together to claim the win in both team scorings (breaking the win-lose pattern of the past five years) and to post many home course PRs and even PRs.
In the varsity race, junior Maud McCole ran tactically and steadily to earn her first race win ever. Sophomore Gabby Walsh was close behind on the heels of the Groton frontrunner. Junior Charlotte O'Toole ran a determined race to 4th place a HCPR, while senior captain Emily Li passed a Groton runner in the final meters of the race to come in 4th for the team, followed by sophomore Maya Sidhu in a PR. Junior Wani Pandey and sophomore Alene Fernandes (with an awesome final 600 m) had fine races to finish for varsity scoring. Smart pack running was especially on display, as it was not apparent at all at the second mile that we would be able to eke out the win. As is always the case in a single-point victory, we are grateful for every place and every bit of toughness our runners displayed to attain and maintain their positions.
In the JV race-within-a-race, freshman Jillian Robertson won the race (for the 3rd time this season) with a PR. Senior captain Alice Crow, freshmen Calie Brady and Meena Menon, and junior Soleil Kerfoot all were not far behind to round out the team scoring, followed closely by junior Tess Kelley and seniors Katie Powers and Imani Marcelo (in another PR!), all of whom were ahead of the Groton 2nd JV runner. The toughness, collaboration, and positivity of the team at all levels were inspiring to witness. Senior manager Coach Val(erie) Chen was at her best, attending to every detail small and large.
We look forward to a shortened week of training after the long weekend before heading to newest ISL member Tabor Academy's campus next Saturday (for the first time) for a quad meet, as the regular season starts to wind down amid the encroaching crisp air of autumn.
