Lost in the scrum during a busy weekend on the local sports scene was the Newburyport girls cross country team's second-place finish at the Division 4 Championships Saturday at Franklin Park.
Finishing near the top of the 34-team field is nothing new for the Newburyport girls. It is the 15th consecutive season in which the Clippers posted a top-five finish, which is the prerequisite for qualifying for the Mass. All-State Meet.
Newburyport's 111 points were second to Hamilton-Wenham's 75. North Reading (129 points), Swampscott (183) and Sacred Heart (196) rounded out the top five.
"To finish in the top five with 35-plus teams for 15 consecutive seasons and qualify for the All-State meet is an accomplishment these girls are very proud of," Clippers coach Don Hennigar said. "I'm not sure if any team in the state can make such a claim."
As has been the case all season, the Clippers capitalized on their depth by placing seven girls in the top 44.
Kim Martins was first among the Clippers and eighth overall (20:30) in a field of 238. Lindsay Cullen placed 14th (20:40), just ahead of Maura Welch (17th, 20:49).
"We are lucky enough to have one of the most respected coaches in the sport," Welch said. "Over the course of the season we have become so tight-knit, and we focus much more on team success than individual success. Unlike most cross country teams in our league, we use a pack mentality, which has served us very well. We run tactical races and have become able to handle the pain by supporting each other and running for each other."
Kim Smith placed 35th (21:45 in the lead of Newburyport's next pack of runners which included Samantha Baribeault (37th, 21:47), Julia Petras (43rd, 21:57), and Kristin Cole (44th, 22:00).
The Clippers will compete in the All-State Meet at the Gardner Municipal Golf Course Saturday (11 a.m.).
"We are going to give absolutely everything we have to the race," Welch said. "If we do what we have done all season we will have no regrets. We hope to be among the top finishing teams from our division, and I know there are a few teams from our league we would love to beat."
Finishing near the top of the 34-team field is nothing new for the Newburyport girls. It is the 15th consecutive season in which the Clippers posted a top-five finish, which is the prerequisite for qualifying for the Mass. All-State Meet.
Newburyport's 111 points were second to Hamilton-Wenham's 75. North Reading (129 points), Swampscott (183) and Sacred Heart (196) rounded out the top five.
"To finish in the top five with 35-plus teams for 15 consecutive seasons and qualify for the All-State meet is an accomplishment these girls are very proud of," Clippers coach Don Hennigar said. "I'm not sure if any team in the state can make such a claim."
As has been the case all season, the Clippers capitalized on their depth by placing seven girls in the top 44.
Kim Martins was first among the Clippers and eighth overall (20:30) in a field of 238. Lindsay Cullen placed 14th (20:40), just ahead of Maura Welch (17th, 20:49).
"We are lucky enough to have one of the most respected coaches in the sport," Welch said. "Over the course of the season we have become so tight-knit, and we focus much more on team success than individual success. Unlike most cross country teams in our league, we use a pack mentality, which has served us very well. We run tactical races and have become able to handle the pain by supporting each other and running for each other."
Kim Smith placed 35th (21:45 in the lead of Newburyport's next pack of runners which included Samantha Baribeault (37th, 21:47), Julia Petras (43rd, 21:57), and Kristin Cole (44th, 22:00).
The Clippers will compete in the All-State Meet at the Gardner Municipal Golf Course Saturday (11 a.m.).
"We are going to give absolutely everything we have to the race," Welch said. "If we do what we have done all season we will have no regrets. We hope to be among the top finishing teams from our division, and I know there are a few teams from our league we would love to beat."
What's next?
Team: Newburyport girls cross country
What: Mass. All-State Meet
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.
Where: Gardner Municipal Golf Course
How'd they qualify: Placed second at Saturday's Division 4 Championships
Top runners: Kim Martins, Lindsay Cullen, Maura Welch, Kim Smith, Samantha Baribeault, Julia Petras, Kristin Cole
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