Week Nine: getting ready for All-State meet
(A weekly series chronicling the journey of the defending Division 1 state champion Newton South girls’ cross-country team through the All-State Meet Nov. 21 at Northfield Mountain).
With the All-State meet on the horizon, the Lions fielded a team team of its younger runners at last weekend’s MSTCA Coaches’ Invitational at the Wrentham Development Center.
‘‘This is a strong field of some of the top runners, but is also a comfortable race for some our developing kids,’’ said Newton South coach Steve McChesney. ‘‘I normally do not run any of the kids in this meet that are going to run in [Eastern Mass] and All-State as I feel that is a lot of big meets to get up for in a row. Also, most of my serious runners run all three seasons and I try to limit how many times they go to the well over the entire year.’’
Still, the Lions place four runners place in the top 60 in a field of 208 varsity competitors. Ninth grader Kayla Burton led the Lions with a 12th-place finish, followed by Katie Sandson (32nd), Abby Pressberg (53rd), and Zuzana Skvarkova (58th).
‘‘I feel that kids that do well in this race as underclassmen among juniors and seniors will really move up in the next few years,’’ McChesney said. ‘‘A placing in the 50s this year could very well turn into a top-25 placing next year. So, I felt good about our future with those two getting their feet wet at this level.’’
Up next: The Lions’ next challenge is the Eastern Mass Division 1 meet on Saturday.
Stepping forward: Burton competed against juniors and seniors at the Coaches’ Invitational ‘‘to have her face the kind of stiff competition that she will face in state meets,’’ according to McChesney.
After jumping out to a quick lead, ‘‘a bit of a tactical error,’’ said McChesney, she was the first freshman to cross the finish line, in a time of 20:05.
‘‘For a ninth grader running in her first season of high school cross-country, a top-15 finish in this field is an accomplishment,’’ he said.
COMPILED BY MAUREEN MULLEN
TRACK THE TEAM For more coverage of the Newton South girls cross-country team, go to www.boston.com.newton
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