Runners of the Year
Mark Amirault, Xaverian
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Vigorous training paid dividends this year for Amirault, the Division 1 EMass and All-State champion. The Catholic Conference MVP worked on building endurance over the summer, and put it to good use by winning every MIAA meet he competed in this fall plus a fourth-place finish in the Brown Invitational in 16:11. He won the EMass title race in 16:10, then had the best time of the meet at the All-States, finishing in 15:59. A high honors student, Amirault has run impressive indoor times, including a 4:20 mile and 1:55 in the 800 meters. His 4x800 relay team was the New England champion in both the indoor and outdoor seasons last year. Hes a fisherman and a moviegoer in his spare time. | |
Patrick McAllister, Marian
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Perhaps a bit under the radar in Division 4, McAllisters first-place finish in 16:19 at the EMass championship race was the second-fastest time of the day. The Catholic Central League MVP went on to place second in Division 2 at the All-States in 16:23, trailing only Thompson Ogilvie of Hopedale (16:16). Earlier in the season, McAllister stood out at the Bay State Invitational, finishing second in Division 2 (16:18). The honors student is looking forward to the indoor and spring track seasons after running a 9:54 in the 2-mile and a 4:39 in the mile last year as a sophomore. | |
Coaches of the Year
Julie Collins, Mansfield
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It was a year of firsts in Mansfield as the Hornets competed in Division 2 in the EMass championship for the first time, moving up from Division 3. They also welcomed first-year coach Julie Collins, who guided top runner Ryan Collins, her son, and the rest of the Hornets to an undefeated regular season and a second consecutive EMass title. Collins is a former Rhode Island state champion in the 3,000 meters for Smithfield High, and she won the Big East 10,000-meter championship with Providence College in 1983. She sites great chemistry, work ethic, talent, and mental toughness as the catalysts for the Hornets fine season. | |
Dick Blake, Hanover
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After 28 years at the helm, Blake is retiring with his first coaching honor and it is much deserved. The 1965 Brockton High graduate and Springfield College alum led the Indians to a record of 148-88 during his tenure. Hanover was undefeated at home in the last four years, a remarkable accomplishment for the seniors. This season, Hanover was 10-0, winning the Patriot League championship and the Hockomock Invitational, placing third at the All-States, and capturing the Division 4 EMass championship. Blake, who also coaches the Whitman-Hanson girls track team, wraps up his career with a fantastic finish. | |
The All-Scholastics
Josh Andrews, Chelmsford
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The ever-improving Andrews finished fourth in the Division 1 All-State championship race in 16:15 after finishing 12th at Gardner in 2004. An additional achievement this season was his eighth-place finish at the EMass championship (16:35), which secured the Lions fifth-place finish. He was the Merrimack Valley Conference champion (16:16) and undefeated in dual meets this season. An honor roll student, Andrews is an all-conference athlete in hockey and track as well. He considers running a hobby, along with listening to music and spending time with friends and teammates. He is looking at Stonehill, UMass-Lowell, and Manhattan. | |
Eric Ashe, Whitman-Hanson
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Ashe finished fourth in the Division 2 EMass championship race (16:39), leading the Panthers to a second-place finish. He followed up by finishing sixth in the All-States in 16:20. Ashe also won the 2.73-mile race at the Hockmock League Invitational in 14:12, and placed second (17:22) in the 5K Catholic Memorial Invitational Oct. 15 in the rain. All of these accomplishments are particularly impressive as Ashe ran cross-country for only two years (he played football as a freshman and sophomore). He enjoys skiing in the winter. Ashe plans to study civil engineering and continue running in college. | |
Dan Cerqueira, Mansfield
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The Hornets needed leadership after losing stalwart Mark Meagher to graduation. Thats exactly what they got with team captain Cerqueira, a vital ingredient in Mansfields second consecutive EMass championship. The highlight of Cerqueiras senior season was finishing between teammates Ryan Collins and Jason OConnell for the runner-up spot (16:28) in the Division 2 EMass final. He was 15th at the All-States (16:31) as Mansfield finished third, and third at the State Coaches Meet at Wrentham (16:26). Accomplished in the classroom, Cerqueira is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society and is applying to Harvard, Columbia, and Cornell. The three-time Hockomock League All-Star is also a captain for indoor and outdoor track. He plays bass guitar. | |
Ryan Collins, Mansfield
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The Hornets faced plenty of challenges this season, having lost team leader Mark Meagher to graduation and moving into Division 2 for the EMass title race. That did nothing to slow Collins, who emerged as one of the fastest and most reliable runners in the state. During the regular season, Collins won the 2.8-mile Hockomock Championship in 14:12 as well as the 5K State Coaches Meet in 16:15. His team was crowned EMass champion for the second straight year, thanks, in part, to his winning performance of 16:26. The following week, Collins was even quicker at Franklin Park, finishing in 16:17 for fifth in the state. An honors student, Collins ran the 2-mile in 9:54 last spring. | |
Jose DePina, Brockton
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Highly regarded by coach John Barry and his teammates as an unselfish team leader, DePina put forth a stellar senior campaign for the state champion Boxers. Winning the Bay State Invitational in 16:02, DePina was a contributor to Brocktons EMass Division 1 championship (fourth; 16:24), and its All-State championship (21st, 16:36) races. He also finished fifth at the Brown Invitational, a whopping 11 places better than his performance last year in the same event. A high honors student, DePina is into movies, music, and video games. Hes applying to UMass-Amherst, UMass-Lowell, and Stonehill. | |
Jesse Faller, Burlington
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This Middlesex League champion is truly in his element on the race course, going undefeated in dual meets and placing in the top three at both the Division 3 EMass and Division 2 All-State championship races. He followed up a third-place finish at the State Coaches Meet in Wrentham (16:15) with a championship performance at the EMass final, finishing in 16:32 to edge Bishop Feehans Chris Rizzo by five seconds. The following week, Faller improved his time at Franklin Park by seven seconds to capture a third-place finish at the All-States (16:25). Undecided on a four-year college, Faller wants to study engineering. | |
Pat Fullerton, Haverhill
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Fullerton began the season with a sixth-place finish at the Bay State Invitational (16:17), a placing that soon became mediocre by his own standards. Two weeks later, he landed third at the Catholic Memorial Invitational (16:43) and the Merrimack Valley Conference championship (16:21). His fifth-place finish in the Division 1 EMass title race helped the Hillies earn an eighth-place finish, and his ninth-place performance the following week at All-States (16:20) improved upon his 2004 outing by 10 spots. Fullerton also joined teammates Zach Sampson and Dan Wang to win the annual Clipper Relay, a 6-mile event featuring top runners from Haverhill and Newburyport area teams. | |
Kevin Gill, Brockton
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Following a terrific sophomore season, Gill was even better this year and contributed mightily to the Boxers Division 1 state championship. After finishing eighth at the EMass finals and 18th at the All-States a year ago, Gill stampeded to third place at EMass this year (16:23) and followed that with a tremendous runner-up performance at the All-States (16:02). That 21-second improvement on the same course in just one weeks time demonstrated Gills competitive nature and helped wrap up Brocktons first state title. Expect to see more of the same from Gill next season for the champs. | |
Brian McDonald, Hanover
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Along with teammate Jon Peirce, McDonald led the Indians to a Division 4 EMass title. His third-place time of 16:30 in the championship race (along with Peirces fifth-place mark) helped seal the championship. He improved the following week by four seconds, placing fourth at the All-States (16:26) as Hanover took home the bronze. Perhaps motivated by Coach Dick Blakes final season, McDonald was on a tear all year, coming in second only to Peirce at both the South Shore Principals and Patriot League Invitationals. A two-time all-star, McDonald is a participant in the Bay State Games during the summer and though he is undecided on a college, he is looking at Bentley and Brandeis among others. | |
Carlos Montrond, Brockton
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Montrond was the X-Factor for Brockton, securing victories for the Boxers throughout the season with solid performances in every meet. At 5 feet 6 inches and 104 pounds, Montrond scampered to top-10 finishes at the EMass (ninth; 16:36) and All-State (10th; 16:22) championships to help Brockton win. He also finished 20th at the Brown Invitational (16:50), 12th at the Manhattan Invitational, and 15th at the Bay State Invitational (16:34). With the indoor and spring track seasons on the horizon, dont expect this year-round runner to let up. When he isnt running, Montrond is into basketball and drawing. | |
Gabe Pacione, Hamilton-Wenham
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Two was the magic number for the Cape Ann League Runner of the Year. He was second at the CAL Championship (16:25); second at the Brown Invitational (17:05); and second at the EMass Division 4 final (16:24). Not surprisingly, Pacione was an all-league selection for the second year in a row in just his second year running cross-country. The snowboarding enthusiasts showing at the EMass final, finishing five seconds behind winner Patrick McAllister, catapulted the Generals to a fourth-place finish. He followed that by crossing seventh the following week in the Division 2 All-State championship race in 16:33. | |
David Polgar, Newton North
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While the 2004 state champion Tigers coped with the graduation of Chris Barnicle, Polgar didnt miss a beat this season. The Bay State champ was in fine form at the EMass final, bettering last years performance by 20 seconds to capture the runner-up spot in 16:18, eight ticks behind winner Mark Amirault. Polgar showed more improvement at the All-States, finishing seventh in 16:19, boosting the veteran three spots from his 2004 placement at Gardner. Another highlight of Polgars final season was his outing at the Brown Invitational Oct. 15, when he finished 10th (16:30) against some of the best runners in New England and the mid-Atlantic. | |
Zach Sampson, Haverhill
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A consistent year-to-year power, the UMass-Lowell bound Sampson finished his high school career in style. Placing fourth at the Bay State (16:15) and Catholic Memorial Invitationals (16:51), Sampson also placed in the top 15 in the Division 1 EMass (14th; 16:45) and All-State (12th, 16:24) championships. He was the anchor for the Clippers relay team, joining teammates Pat Fullerton and Dan Wang to win the championship. He also finished second in the Merrimack Valley Conference championship as the Hillies placed second, and he boasted an 8-1 individual dual meet record. Sampson is a high honors student and enjoys music and sports. | |
League All-Stars
Runners of the Year
Kirsten Kasper, North Andover
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A freshman playing sports in high school always has a lot to prove. But with Kasper, one has to wonder: What else can she prove? The hands-down winner of both the Division 2 EMass championship (18:34) and the Division 1 race at the state championship (18:29), Kasper holds the freshman record for the track at Franklin Park. She also holds the course record for her home course and joins with Keely Maguire to make it a Cape Ann sweep as Runners of the Year. A high honor roll student and a Cape Ann League All-Star, Kasper is also a competitive swimmer; she was the second youngest to go to the short course YWCA Nationals. | |
Keely Maguire, Triton
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When Maguire is involved in a race, it will almost surely be a fight to the finish. In back-to-back weeks, at the EMass championships and then the state championships, Maguire beat her opponents with no time to spare, lengthening her stride and showing spectators her competitive spirit. Just a sophomore, Maguire transferred from Georgetown to Triton this year and made an instant mark. Her accomplishments also include becoming Cape Ann League champion, Bay State Invitational champion, and State Coaches Meet champion, along with her wins in EMass and the states. The phenom runs indoor and outdoor track and participates in the Lynx Elite Athletics running club. Shealso enjoys horseback riding. | |
Coaches of the Year
Steven McChesney, Newton S.
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After years of dominating Division 2, McChesneys Newton South team captured first place in Division 1 at the EMass championships. The 7-1 Dual County League champions finished second the next week at states. In his career at Newton South, McChenney has amassed a 110-11 record, with eight undefeated seasons and eight EMass Division 2 titles. This is his second Coach of the Year honor and he has had 15 All-Scholastics on his team at one time or another. A high school All-American in the 5K, the 1979 graduate of the University of Oregon was ranked 12th in the nation in the 10K. The father of 1-year-old twin boys also enjoys gourmet cooking. | |
Steve Sawyer, Hamilton-Wenham
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Sawyer has to be feeling pretty good. No, not necessarily because his team went 12-0 this season, won Division 4 at the EMass championships, and claimed third at the state championships. No, its probably because all his runners were underclassmen, and thus, they will all return next year. In his 27 years as coach, Sawyer has captured the Division 2 state championship twice, in 1999 and 2000. This is also Sawyers second stint as Coach of the Year (1999). He also is at the helm of the boys cross-country and indoor and outdoor track teams. He played football, basketball, and baseball at Gordon College and as a senior was named Athlete of the Year in 1965. | |
The All-Scholastics
Jenna Banks, North Attleboro
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Its a straightforward assessment to say that Banks is the No. 1 runner on her North Attleboro team. The 5-foot-4-inch senior placed fifth at the EMass state championship with a time of 19 minutes 36 seconds, giving her the school record at Franklin Park. A week later she placed 13th in the state championship. Banks is the captain of both the indoor and outdoor track teams. The high honor roll student is also a member of the National Honor Society. In addition to running, she likes to listen to music and hang out with friends. Next year, she plans to attend a Division 2 college and major in nursing. | |
Jessica Barton, Newton North
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Last years Division 1 Player of the Year didnt falter in her second cross-country campaign. Although she didnt repeat as Division 1 champion at states this year, she finished third with a time of 18:55. She finished first in the same time at the EMass championships in Division 1 the week before. The Bay State League champion is also an acomplished indoor and outdoor track competitor. Last year in state championship competition, she was the outdoor mile champion and runner-up in the indoor mile. The 5-foot-7-inch junior also enjoys surfing and triathlons. | |
Brielle Chabot, Wellesley
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With her third All-Scholastic season, Wellesley team captain Chabot didnt disappoint. Undefeated in dual-meet competition, Chabot had second-place finishes at the Bay State Conference meet, the Catholic Memorial Invitational, and the State Coaches Invitational. In state competition, she placed third in Division 3 at the EMass championship in 19:23 and fifth in Division 2 at the state championship at 19:20. Chabot runs the two-mile in indoor and outdoor track, where she is also a captain. In her free time, she likes lifting, dancing and cooking. | |
Katharina Eidmann, Winchester
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Eidmann is something of a Renaissance woman. Her running accomplishments include performances at long to short distances. In cross-country, the 5-foot-5-inch senior finished first in the Catholic Memorial Invitational, second in the EMass championship, and fourth in the state championship. In spring track, she finished second in the mile at states (5:07). In winter track, her state championship 1,000-meter race was tops at 2:59. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, the National Spanish Honor Society, and the National Latin Honor Society. In her free time, she enjoys reading, skiing, and rock climbing. | |
Brooke Fallon, Dennis-Yarmouth
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At 4 feet 11 inches and 90 pounds, Fallon doesnt have the height or size many of her competitors do. It doesnt matter. Fallon, along with teammate and fellow All-Scholastic Colleen Wetherbee, led an extremely competitive D-Y team to a third-place finish in the Division 1 state championship, finishing in eighth place (19:16). Fallon placed second in the sophomore race at the State Coaches Meet and ninth at the Catholic Memorial Invitational. She owns the freshman and sophomore course records for her home course and also participates in indoor and outdoor track. Aside from running, she also enjoys shopping. | |
Kelsey Karys, Newton South
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Part of the very strong freshman All-Scholastic class, Karys was the top runner on the EMass championship Newton South team. At the EMass race, she finished third (19:04) and finished fourth (19:01) at the state championship. The 5-foot-4-inch Karys, whose team placed second in the state championships, was the champion of the very competitive Dual County League. She is ranked sixth on the all-time list at Newton South. The honor roll student also plays basketball for the Lions. Her hobbies and interests include horseback riding and drawing. | |
Emily Lanois, Hamilton-Wenham
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There was a lot of talent in the Cape Ann League this year, but Lanois is definitely one of the select few at the top of the class. A 5-foot-2-inch, 100-pound freshman, Lanois bested all runners in the Division 4 race at the EMass championship, with a time of 19:26. A week later at the state championship, she finished third, and shaved almost 20 seconds off her time (19:06). Lanois also finished second at the Cape Ann League championship and 10th at the Brown Invitational. The indoor and outdoor track runner is on the high honor roll. Her hobbies include skiing and sailing. | |
Colleen McNaughton, Haverhill
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A returning All-Scholastic, McNaughton somehow managed to better her sophomore year. Undefeated in dual meets, the Merrimack Valley champion, and the Most Valuable Player, McNaughton finished second at the Bay State Invitational and third at the Catholic Memorial Invitational. She finished fourth in Division 1 at the EMass championships and ninth in the State Championship with a time of 19:23. A three-time MVC All-Star, McNaughton also finished second in the 2-mile at the state outdoor championships. The honors student would like to continue running in college. Her hobbies include wakeboarding and music. | |
Caroline OLoughlin, Boston Latin
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OLoughlin is carrying the torch for the Boston kids when it comes to cross-country. Her top-three finishes included a second at the State Coaches Meet in Wrentham and second in Division 1 at the EMass championships. At states, OLoughlin finished in seventh place. She has been on six consecutive Dual County League All-Star teams (including indoor and outdoor track) and finished second in the mile at the EMass outdoor track championships last season. An honor roll student, her interests include swimming, listening to music, skiing, and travel. Her college plans include running both cross-country and track. | |
Stephanie Pancoast, Westford
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Pancoast made finishing in the top five an art form this year. She finished third in the Bay State Invitational, second in the Catholic Memorial Invitational, third in the EMass Division 2 championships, and fifth the Division 1 state championship. In addition to that impressive stat sheet, she was Dual County Runner of the Year and the Grey Ghosts team MVP. She is a distance runner in indoor track and a distance runner and pole vaulter in outdoor track. For a hobby, Pancoast plays the piano. Next fall she is considering New Hampshire, Maryland, Cornell, and Virginia. | |
Alexandra Smrcina, Falmouth
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The bane of many cross-country coaches existence is losing their star runners to soccer. Well, the opposite happened at Falmouth when Smrcina switched to cross-country after three years of playing soccer. The senior placed sixth at the state meet with a time of 19:08, her best time of the year. She also captured first place at the South Shore Principals Invitational. She participates in indoor and outdoor track, where she is a league all-star, and carries a GPA of 3.93. Smrcina didnt leave soccer because of a lack of success: She was the Old Colony League MVP in 2004. | |
Colleen Wetherbee, D-Y
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The tallest (5 feet 11 inches) girl on the All-Scholastic roster, Wetherbee was is also one of the most dominant. Her list of accomplishments is impressive: first-place finishes at the Amherst Invitational, Bay State Invitational, South Coast Challenge, Catholic Memorial Invitational, and the State Coaches Meet. She finished second at both the EMass championship and the state championship. Wetherbee finished the year undefeated in dual meets, with 160 points overall, and was named MVP for a very talented D-Y squad. She is an honor roll student and a member of Amnesty International. She also runs track. | |

































