by Kurt Wheeler
The Cazenovia girls cross country team earned 12 season-best performances as they overwhelmed Bishop Grimes for a Senior Meet win last Wednesday, the Lakers placing nine of the first 10 runners across the line as they won 15-51.
The squad honored its seniors before the contest with tributes from their younger teammates and posters highlighting each girl’s qualities. The seven seniors on the team make up more than a third of their total of 20 runners, the second biggest roster in program history.
Senior Captain Molly Hart led the team with a career-best time of 20 minutes, 55 seconds on Cazenovia’s rugged home course. Hart also ran a personal best practice time of 5:50 over 1,600 meters during the Lakers’ weekly “Mile Monday” track workout two days earlier, as she peaks to culminate her distinguished career.
Lauren McLean (21:37) and Junior Captain Mary Williams (21:54) also ran personal-best races as Cazenovia jumped to a 1-2-3 finish before Grimes’ first runner (Edy Livingston, 22:51) crossed the line.
Claire Braaten (23:00) and Senior Maddie McGreevy (23:32) ran season best times to secure the fourth and fifth places for the Lakers, locking in the victory.
They were followed by a huge pack of Lakers, led by Zoey Gagne (season best of 23:59) and Melanie Michael (24:33) who captured the critical sixth and seventh places for the team. Senior Captain Mia Chesbrough (season best of 24:36), Grace Dolan (24:43), Bonnie Pittman (personal best of 24:44) and Olivia Wong (26:02) all crossed the line ahead of Bishop Grimes’ second runner.
Seniors Laura Fitzgerald, Alyson Woolbert, Jenna Steinberg and Samantha Combs also contributed to the total team effort as the Lakers rose to 3-1 on the year.
They would return to action against Chittenango Wednesday at home and host their final league season race against Manlius-Pebble Hill on Friday afternoon.
