Stoughton’s Kelly Finishes Eighth at Hockomock League Cross Country Championships

Amy Kelly continued her stellar debut season, finishing eighth overall at the girls’ varsity Hockomock League cross country championships, held this past Saturday at Borderland State Park in Easton, on a raw October day, with temperatures barely above 40 degrees.

Kelly, a freshman, ran the 5K race in 20:13. It was her “best performance of the year” at that distance, Stoughton girls’ coach bob Clarke said. Kelly was the top freshman runner in the varsity race.

The SHS girls’ team finished fifth overall in the 10-team championship meet, the second best showing for a Davenport Division team (small Hockomock), behind only Oliver Ames.

Meanwhile, the SHS boys’ team finished ninth out of ten teams, ahead of . As he has done all season, Nick Green paced the Stoughton boys.

Mansfield won the boys’ team championship, while Franklin won the girls’ team championship. Both schools finished ahead of the second place boys' and girls'.

On the girls’ side, in addition to Kelly, a number of other Stoughton runners posted personal or season bests, Clarke said.

Kerry O’Neil finished 13th overall, in 20:46, her best-ever time in a 5K.

Rounding out the varsity field: Deirdre Simms (21.35); Jade Paul (22.54, season best); Susanna Noe (23.05, best 5K); freshman Kaitlin Elwood (23.13, best 5K); Sara Pinchieri (23.57); Rebekah Medina (24.20, best 5K); and Emelina Kozak (25.07).

Arianna Hall finished the 5K JV race in 27:10 and Shannon Barkey ran her best 5k, finishing the freshmen race in 24:29.

On the boys’ side, Green finished 14th overall in what boys’ coach Harvey Blonder said was a “highly competitive field.” Green’s time of 16:49 was just four seconds off his personal best.

Rounding out the varsity field: Wayne Barnaby (18:57); David Lockhart (19:19); Alec DeNapoli (19:30); Jason Marshall (21:43); Jack D'Addieco (22:22); and Sam Freitas (22:38).

Blonder said Lockhart's time was almost two minutes faster than his previous personal best in a 5K.

Sean Ellertson (23:26, personal best) and Matt Boykin (24:17) ran in the junior varsity race, while Luke Butera (21:42), Jonathan Oliveira (23:11) and William Phillips (25:24) ran in the freshmen race. Each freshman runner set a personal best at the 5K distance.

“While all the boys ran well, we have our work cut out for us to become more competitive in the league,” Blonder said.

“The combination of a small squad without a lot of experience left us on the bottom of the standings this year. The infusion of six freshmen this year will help the program and there is hope that other school athletes can be convinced to try this great sport. In cross country two or three key runners can make a big difference.”