Stoughton Cross Country Runners Find Success Under The Lights

The boys’ and girls’ cross country teams took part in a rare evening race this past Saturday, competing at the McIntyre Twilight Meet at the Barnstable Fair grounds. Boys’ coach Harvey Blonder said it was reported that this meet was only the second time in the country a high school cross country race had been held under the lights.

“The setting combined with good running weather and a fast course led to outstanding efforts across the board for the Black Knights,” Blonder said.

On the boys’ side, Nick Green once again led the way, earning a medal for his 24th place performance. On the girls’ side, Amy Kelly and Kerry O’Neil paced Stoughton runners.

Green competed in the boys’ varsity 5K race. Blonder said two of the top teams in the state—Brookline and Bishop Feehan—“attacked the course,” placing nine of the top 10 runners overall. “However, they pulled the field to a lightning fast pace,” he said, which resulted in Green recording splits of 5:01 at the mile mark and 10:22 at the 2-mile mark. He finished the 3.1 mile race in 16:45 (another personal best).

Wayne Barnaby also ran bests for the mile (5:30), 2-mile (11:28) and overall with his time of 18:23. Mark Phan was just five seconds off his personal best with his finish of 20:11.

In the junior varsity 5K race Jack D'Addieco (21:42) and Sam Freitas (22:07) were within a couple of seconds of each other throughout the race until D'Addieco’s finishing kick gave him a 25-second margin at the tape, Blonder said. Both times were personal bests.

Alec DeNapoli was the lone Stoughton runner in the sophomore 5K race. “Early in the season we had discussed his season goal which was 19:15. His finish of 19:13 accomplished that goal,” Blonder said, “but he stunned all of the team by running personal bests of 5:24 for the mile and 11:39 for 2-miles along the way.”

In the 2.1-mile freshmen race, David Lockhart (12:49), Jason Marshall (13:33), Luke Butera (14:29), Jonathan Oliveira (15:40), and William Phillips (16:07) each led off with their fastest first mile of the season en route to the finish, Blonder said.

On the girls’ side, the Black Knights had three runners in the girls’ 2.1-mile freshmen race. Kelly came in second overall in a field of 92 runners, with a time of 12:56, girls’ coach Bob Clarke said. She received a medal for her performance.

Kaitlin Elwood finished in 15:10 (28th overall) and Shannon Barkey finished in 15:48 (32nd overall), with both freshmen also running well.

In the varsity 5K race, O’Neil was the first Stoughton runner to finish, coming in 52nd in a field of 180. She medaled for her efforts and recorded a personal best of 21:06 on this course.

Deirdre Simms was just 11 seconds behind, finishing in 21:17, good for 60th overall. She also set a personal best on the course.

Sara Pinchieri set a new personal best as well, finishing in 22:19.

Both teams will compete in the Hockomock League Championships this Saturday at Bordlerland State Park in Easton.