By Ken Chaisson
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
In cross country, a team’s success hinges on its fifth-place runner—every runner and every second count. The finishing positions of the top five runners are summed, and the lowest score wins.
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams from Walpole, Natick, and Newton North competed in a tri-meet covering five kilometers at Elm Bank Reservation in South Natick.
Tim Giblin, coach of the Walpole boys’ team, led his squad to victory in the Division 2A triple crown in 2023, securing titles in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track. This year, Giblin is working with a roster of 33 runners.
The team is captained by Cole Bowden and Roger Mann. Junior Luke Zahurak stands out as Walpole’s top runner; he finished 2nd in the tri-meet and also placed 2nd in the Walpole Labor Day Road Race a few weeks earlier. Seniors Bowden and Mann, along with sophomores Josh Black and Nate O’Neil, typically complete the team’s top five, with Bowden finishing 4th in the Labor Day Race.
The boys’ team placed 6th in the recent Manchester Invitational on September 21 in the Boys Small School Division, competing against teams from across New England. They then secured 2nd place in the prestigious Ocean State Invitational Varsity 2 Boys race on September 28, with Zahurak finishing 11th in a strong field and Bowden, Black, Sawyer Regan, and Mann also contributing to the score.
In the tri-meet, Zahurak finished a close 2nd, followed by Mann, Bowden, O’Neil, and Regan.
The girls’ cross country team is also coming off a successful 2023 season, finishing 3rd at the Division 2A Championship and 7th at the Division 2 All States as the top team from 2A. Head coach Conor Cashman, who has over 20 years of experience, guided the team through summer training of 30-35 miles per week, led by senior captains Eve Roddy, Laura Costa, and Kayla Ahern. Bridget Tierney has had a particularly strong season as a result.
Junior Ila Zollo, Walpole’s top returning runner, is currently recuperating. She finished 2nd in the Division 2A divisional race and 13th at the All States in 2023, holding the 6th fastest 5K time in school history.
In the tri-meet, Tierney led the Walpole runners with an 8th place finish, followed by Lily McManus, Allie Flynn, Danielle Danna, and Madelyn Cunningham.
Historically, the girls’ team has strengthened as the season progresses, peaking at the divisionals and beyond. They are set to compete in the MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight XC Invitational (Small/Medium Schools) at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in Falmouth, MA, on Saturday, October 12.
Both teams are focused on the Bay State Conference Championships later in October.
