Weston Girls Dominate at DCL Cross Country Championships

Editor's note: This article was submitted by Bob Walmsley.

The Weston girls cross country team came into the Dual County League championships as favorites this year, having an unbeaten 8-0 dual meet record. The Weston trio of Olivia Brackett, Charlotte Walmsley and Abigail Pohl have been described as “probably the best in the state” and the fourth through sixth runners were improving rapidly. However, Lincoln-Sudbury and Newton South had won these championships 19 of the last 22 years and were not going down without a fight.

Boston Parks' concern for the muddy sports field meant that the start was moved up about 100 meters. At the mile mark, Weston's Olivia Brackett hit the front and lead all the way to the finish (18:23). With Charlotte Walmsley (18:41) following shortly in third and Abigail Pohl (19:03) in sixth, the Weston trio had again finished in front of Lincoln-Sudbury’s first runner.

Lincoln-Sudbury placed 7, 10th,11th, 13th and 18 for a total of 59 points.  However, Weston's Edom Wessenyeleh (19:49) placed 17th and Zoe Snow (20:19) placed 19th giving a total of 46 points for a comfortable victory. Weston's 6th runner Read Allen (20:28)  ran well as Weston's 6th girl for 25th and Lina Makino (21:19) was a creditable 38th to complete the Weston team.

Coach John Monz noted that it had been since 1987 that the Weston girls team had won the team and individual titles. He also noted that Matt Herzig’s 3rd place in the boys race was the highest finish by a Weston boy since 1997.