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Girls' Cross-Country

Keklak, L-S pour it on

By Ashley Picillo
Globe Correspondent / November 15, 2009

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Deep puddles, mud, pouring rain, and strong winds greeted the runners at the EMass Cross-Country Championships yesterday at Franklin Park.

The difficult conditions didn’t seem to bother junior Andrea Keklak of Lincoln Sudbury, who won the Division 1 title for the second consecutive year, finishing in 19 minutes 26 seconds over the 3.1-mile course.

“Obviously today was slow because of the conditions,’’ said Keklak, who won the event in 18:20 last year. “I will need a new strategy going into next weeks [All-States] meet at Northfield.’’

Junior Margo Gillis of Newton-North finished second in 19:44.

“I like the mud,’’ said Gillis. “This is what I signed up for. And I’m up for the [All-States] challenge. It is a really nice course, but has a lot of hills. But, you get used to that living in Newton and running up Heartbreak Hill every week.’’

Newton-South's Kathy O’Keefe, finished third in 19:53, edging fourth-place finisher Claire Arthur of Lincoln-Sudbury by 11 seconds.

Lincoln-Sudbury (58) won the team crown, followed by Newton South (74), and Franklin (100). Each of the top three squads placed two runners in the top 10.

Senior Jenna Davidner, who battled illness throughout last week, won the Division 2 race in 19:15, helping Oliver Ames (141) take fourth place in the team competition.

“I’ve been feeling sick and just concentrated on getting rest,’’ said Davidner. “But no matter what, I was running today. I’m glad I could run for the win.’’

Davidner adjusted her strategy to account for the conditions.

“The boys times were all really slow so I knew it would be a tough race,’’ she said. “I established position early because you never know what will happen on a day like today.’’

Wellesley captured the Division 2 team title with 95 points, followed by Whitman-Hanson (123) and Concord-Carlisle (131).

Senior Lindsay Walsh of Swampscott ran a 19:06 for the Division 3 title. Walsh, who missed last years because of a stress fracture, built a big lead and crossed the finish line 14 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Viviana Hanley of Bishop Feehan.

“I tried to get a hard start, and then really pushed away on the hill,’’ said Walsh. “I worked off of everyone else going into the third loop.’’

Bishop Feehan placed first in the team event with 40 points, placing four runners in the top 10. Milton (95) finished second and Dennis-Yarmouth (189) was third.

Freshman Lee Milne of Dover-Sherborn impressed with her first-place finish in Division 4, running a 20:04. Hamilton-Wenham runners Kristen Ashley (20:37) and and Emily Senning (20:42) finished second and third. Hamilton-Wenham (43) earned first in the team event, with Seekonk (110) and Weston (142) in second and third.