B.A.A. Boston Center for Youth and Families collaborate for annual XC Races in Franklin Park
Though you weren’t able to see the athletes through the fog, you could hear the cheering. On Thursday morning at Franklin Park in Boston, middle school athletes from ten Boston-area schools congregated to compete in the annual Boston Middle School Cross Country Championships, hosted by Boston Public Schools and Boston Centers for Youth and Families, and sponsored by the Boston Athletic Association.
With an October combination of fog, mist, and an occasional sprinkle, running conditions were optimal for more than 200 participants from ten Boston middle schools to compete in a three race medley. With the rain of previous days, “The Playstead” area of Franklin Park which traditionally has hosted the race was unusable with puddles of water. The course was re-marked for 2011, and included long stretches of roadway to ensure secure footing for all participants.
The first race of the morning was the Boys 500 meters. By the second of two turns, John Lara of Hernandez Middle School held a strong lead, and went on to win by more than seven seconds over Dezmin Diaz of Tobin Middle School. Joining Lara in the top ten were schoolmates Joel Lara, and Jovan Talavera to help secure the team title for Hernandez School.
BOYS TOP 10 FINISHERS:
Place Name: School Time
1. John Lara Hernandez 1:35.1
2.
Dezmin Diaz Tobin 1:42.8
3. Eli Bonheur O’Bryant 1:43.5
4. Romario Ebanks O’Bryant 1:44.4
5. Richard Lopez Rogers 1:44.9
6. Sammy Amri McKay 1:46.1
7. Denilson Goncalves Timilty 1:46.6
8. Joel Lara Hernandez 1:47.9
9. Ernie Depradine McKay 1:50.7
10. Jovan Talavera Hernandez 1:51.1
BOYS TEAM RESULTS:
Place School Points
1. Hernandez 19
2. O’Bryant 24
3. Tobin 27*
4. McKay 27
5. Rogers 48
6. Timilty 53
7. Jackson-Mann 100
8. Greenwood 104
9. Perry 176
10. King 236
(*on a tie-breaker – 4th place runner finish)
In the second race of the morning, the Girls assembled on the start line on the North Side of the Playstead, and through the fog before the final turn, Juleen Lewis had built a commanding lead over the pack. She won by nearly seven seconds, and though she was joined by Aiyah Maiden (sixth) and Alondra Acosta (tenth) of Timilty Middle School in the top ten, they finished second in the team competition to O’Bryant, who was led by Nisa Holley in second, Aislinn Donovan in fourth, and Amanda Leyton-Nolan in eighth.
GIRLS TOP 10 FINISHERS:
Place Name: School Time
1. Juleen Lewis Timilty 1:50.8
2. Nisa Holley O’Bryant 1:57.4
3. Mia Sheets Hernandez 2:00.5
4. Aislinn Donovan O’Bryant 2:03.8
5. Stacy Bernudez McKay 2:04.7
6. Aiyah Maiden Timilty 2:04.9
7. Ariana Serret Hernandez 2:05.1
8. Amanda Leyton-Nolan O’Bryant 2:06.5
9. Irene Colon-Nava Hernandez 2:10.5
10. Alondra Acosta Timilty 2:11.1
GIRLS TEAM RESULTS:
Place School Points
1. O’Bryant 14
2. Timilty 17
3. Hernandez 19
4. Tobin 48
5. McKay 51
6. King 58
7. Jackson-Mann 63
8. Perry 134
9. Rogers 144
10. Greenwood 226
The most exciting event of the day, however, was the mixed relay competition, in which each school selects two boys and two girls to represent their best chances at victory at the Middle School Cross Country Championships. With two heats, the schools were split in half. Hernandez, Timilty, O’Bryant, Greenwood, and Tobin were in the first heat. The second heat featured Jackson Mann, King, McKay, Perry, and Rogers. Timilty took the title over O’Bryant and Hernadez in the first heat (and overall) by a narrow two seconds.
MIXED RELAY RESULTS:
Place School Time
1. Timilty 2:53
2. O‘Bryant 2:55
3. Hernandez 2:58
4. McKay 2:59
5. Tobin 3:02
6. Jackson-Mann 3:03
7. Rogers 3:04
8. King 3:12
9. Perry 3:17
10. Greenwood 3:29
2011 PARTICIPATION:
Number of Schools: 10
Number of Participants: Boys: 118 Girls: 102 Total: 220
Participating Schools and Coaches:
Greenwood Drew Hughes-Brock
Hernandez Michael Baugh
Timilty Manny Frenandez
Tobin Jessie DesForges
O’Bryant Jose Ortega
Rogers Thomas Levett
McKay Michael Munroe
Perry Ellen Wyse
King John Fields
Jackson-Mann Christine Holmes