BYFIELD — Amid heavy rain, strong wind gusts, rain and 3 miles of slop, The Governor's Academy girls cross country team came full circle last Saturday.
The Govs repeated as Division 3 New England Private Schools Track Association (NEPSTA) champions, finishing first out of the 12 competing schools for the seventh New England title in school history.
"There was some pressure to repeat, but we tried to stay relaxed before and during the race," said senior Emma Rausch. "I think our ability to stay loose and not focus on the pressure of trying to repeat was what allowed us to win."
Coming off an 11-1 season that witnessed the Govs placing first in the Independent School League Championships and then clinching the Division 3 NEPSTA title, this year's 8-5 team — a squad that lost three girls from the 2008 title year — may have underachieved during the regular season.
"They were brilliant and less than stellar, and it all depended on the day," said Govs coach David Abusamra, who finished his 30th season. "You just couldn't predict this season."
With the season nearing an end, a quad-meet at the Brooks School on Halloween left the Govs 1-2 on their last day of competition with the ISL championships just a week away.
The coaches gave them pep talks, and stacked those with short and intense training sessions that would amplify their potential, helping them peak at the most opportune time.
"It was a matter of training their minds and getting them to believe in themselves," said Abusamra. "I knew we had the talent to do it, we just needed them to focus and get their act together to pull it off."
Succumbing to St. Paul's School (55 points) and Nobles and Greenough (35 points), the Govs placed third at the ISL championships with 117 points and an average runner finish of 20:36.
With the NEPSTA championships just a week away, physical preparation would not be the only factor.
"We kept the intensity up in the last few practices and made some suggestions that they have to believe in themselves," Abusamra explained. "This year's team is a mixed bag of talented and hard-working girls with varying degrees of focus and commitment. They didn't always believe in themselves throughout the season, and when they didn't, they just couldn't sustain their focus. When they turned it on, they did beautifully."
In conjunction with their running regimen, the Govs held a midweek full-team (boys and girls) pasta party that not only relieved any pre-NEPSTA anxiety, but also did a solid job in reinforcing the team's bond.
Conceived by captains Kayla Jenson (junior) and Alison Travers (senior), the Govs dressed in angel costumes complete with wings and halos in the name of school "spirit."
"The idea to dress up as angels was in hopes of gaining spirit and sharing with the school what we were about to do," said Jenson. "The wings were symbolic in the hopes that we would fly on Saturday."
With Hurricane Ida bearing down on the Groton School, the original course had to be scrapped in favor of one a little less water-logged.
"You could see it in their faces," Abusamra recalled. "They were going to take charge."
Finishing with an average course time of 21:08 and a team time of 1:45:38, the Govs gathered 48 points — 18 more than runner-up Thayer Academy.
"They have the ability to turn it on and run with the best when they are truly focused," said Abusamra.
Junior Alanna McDonough (2nd place; 19:47) had the Govs' top finish.
"I think that our team was so successful because we like each other so much," said the 16-year-old McDonough. "We all run for each other, and do our personal best because we want the whole team to succeed."
The Governor's Academy girls cross country team
Head coach: David Abusamra
Assistant coaches: Jeff Kelly and Bre-Anne McKenna
Runners
Grace Barlow, senior, Hingham
Elisabeth Bogart, sophomore, Newburyport
Sarah Boone, sophomore, West Newbury
Erin Cahill, junior, Andover
Kelly Callahan, freshman, Hingham
Victoria Caruso, junior, Hampton Fall, N.H.
Michelle Gallipeau, junior, Middletown, R.I.
Haley Gould, junior, Prides Crossing
Lindsay Grant, senior, Boxford
Kayla Jenson, junior, Rye, N.H.
Claire Lilly, junior, North Andover
Alanna McDonough, junior, Andover
Kelsey Melanson, junior, Newburyport
Amanda Pease, junior, Greenland, N.H.
Emma Rausch, senior, Rowley
Hannah Rausch, sophomore, Rowley
Cecilia Reyes, sophomore, Lawrence
Katherine Seibel, senior, Damariscotta, Maine
Alison Travers, senior, Brentwood, N.H.
