Marblehead boys, Norwood’s Martin shine at Division 2 cross country meet

DEVENS — Marblehead has a long and celebrated history in cross country and on Saturday at Willard Park, the Magician boys added to that lineage.

Led by a 1-2-3 finish from Will Cerutti, Nate Assa and Jacob Sczalewicz, Marblehead edged Plymouth South to win the team championship.

“Taking the top three was huge,” Marblehead coach Brian Heenan said. “They talked about it all week, but we knew that the Walpole and Plymouth South kids would be right there.”

It became a two-man race almost right from the outset as Cerutti and Assa spent most of the three laps around the Willard Park course running shoulder to shoulder as they opened up a large lead on the rest of the field.

They remained side by side all the way to the finish line with Cerutti being credited with the win, .04 ahead of Assa. The drama came behind them as Walpole’s Luke Zahurak and Plymouth South’s Noah Blessing saw Sczalewicz slip away in the final lap to complete the podium sweep for Marblehead.

“I told Jacob that if we could come in 1-2-3, I will kiss you. I hope he doesn’t find me,” joked Cerutti.

As it turned out, the Magicians needed those top three finishes as Plymouth South put all five of its runners in the top 24, but Marblehead snuck in a 29th and 30th to eke out the team title.

The 1A girls race began the morning and it looked all set to be another showcase for reigning champion Merri O’Connell of Marblehead. And the Magician junior bolted out to a big lead in the first lap before Norwood’s Natalie Martin began to stalk her prey.

Martin, who missed most of last season because of injury, steadily closed the gap and finally overtook O’Connell climbing the last major hill of the race. From there, she put the hammer down and pulled away to a 16 second win.

“This was a tough course,” Martin said. “I didn’t come out expecting to win but I felt good going up the hills, so I gave it my all.”

Westwood got a sixth-place finish from Tea Pagnotti and a 10th from Susannah Rockets to help the Wolverines easily outdistance Walpole for the team crown.

The 2B girls race saw Holliston’s Maggie Kuchman lead most of the way and best Northampton’s Maeve O’Neil to take the individual title.

Amherst-Pelham’s Genevieve Dole finished 12th to lead a squad that placed all five of its scoring runners in the top 27 places to best Newburyport by 10 points for the team crown. The Clippers were led by a 11th place from Devin Stroope.

Falmouth’s Silas Gartner out ran Danvers’ Will Conklin in the 2B boys race but neither team would contend for a title. Longmeadow’s consistency did the job as the Lancers had five finishers in the top 27 to easily outdistance second place Wakefield.

Whitinsville Christian’s Emily Flagg had maybe the best performance of the day as she led right from the opening gun. The talented sophomore finished over a minute ahead of teammate Emma Wierenga.

That duo led their team to a 24-point victory over Medfield. Groton-Dunstable was third.

G-D would fare better in the final race of the day as Greyson Dunne staged a stretch duel with Bishop Stang’s Lowell Copps to take first place. Teammate Andrew Kosiba was third as they dominated the team competition by 50 points over Dover-Sherborn.