Vineyarders place second in EAC cross-country championships

Catherine Cherry breaks school record.

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The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) cross-country teams hosted the Eastern Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday, and turned in strong performances with the girls and boys varsity teams each placing second to Bishop Feehan.

Vineyard sophomore Catherine Cherry continued her string of outstanding runs by taking second place in the girls varsity race with a school-record time of 19:41. Coyle and Cassidy’s Rachael Johnson was the race winner, and crossed the line in 18:59.

“Catherine has been on fire the past few weeks,” Vineyard Coach Joe Schroeder said. “Rachel Johnson has been trying to break 19 minutes, and we expected what she was going to do. She was going to go after it. Catherine ran her own race, and it was great to see.”

Bishop Feehan runners captured spots 3 through 8, with Lauren McGill (20:17), Elizabeth Parkinson (20:29), Madison Saba (20:30), Sophia Arruda (20:31), Natalie Dextradeur (20:42), and Phoebe Dodge (20:58) finishing 41 seconds apart. Vineyard freshman Amber Cuthbert, who has excelled the past two weeks in jayvee events at the Brown Invitational (first) and Twilight Meet (second), finished ninth in 21:08. Diana Ciampa of Bishop Feehan (21:13) rounded out the top 10.

Vineyarders Margaret Sykes (24:37), Veronica Wendt (27:00), and Ashley Biggs (27:01) claimed positions 17 to 19.

Three Vineyarders made the top 10 in the boys varsity race. Peter Burke turned in another stellar effort, finishing third in 16:53. Owen Porterfield (17:38) was seventh, and Isaac Richards (17:46) placed 10th.

Bishop Feehan’s Alexander Simoneau won the race in 16:44, followed by Shamrock teammate Lincoln Schneider (16:52). Jackson Craig (17:16), Greg Cran (17:21), and Ryan Medeiros (17:24) held down spots 4 through 6 for Feehan, while Coyle and Cassidy’s Mike Norton (17:39) and Lucas Jacques (17:40) placed eighth and ninth.

The remaining Vineyard runners all made the top 20. Vito Aiello (17:47) was 11th, followed by Owen Atkins (18:04, 14th), Otto Osmers (18:23, 16th), and Charlie Whalen (19:08, 19th).

The final event of the meet was the mixed jayvee race. The Vineyarders swept the top three spots, and put five runners in the top 10. Nate Porterfield led the field of 72 harriers, crossing the finish line in 18:47. Harrison Dorr (18:55), was second; Daniel Rivard (19:02), third; Colin Henke (19:30), eighth; and Jackson Wojnowski (19:43), ninth. Zack Cragan (19:03), Xavier Frick (19:16), Andrew Ison (19:17), Ben Wheeler (19:27), and Seamus Sutula (19:48) were 4 through 7 and 10th for Bishop Feehan.

Next for the Vineyarders were Eben Peak (20:57, 17th), Ethan Creato (21:00, 18th), Tom Sykes (21:20, 22nd), Owen Steenkamp (23:00, 38th), and Richie Barlett (25:05, 51st).

The top five girls jayvee times all belonged to Bishop Feehan: Kaylee Gladu (21:14, 20th), Kelsee Gladu (21:46, 26th), Madison Enright (22:11, 28th), Caitlin Hmeil (22:17, 29th), and Isabella Simoneau (22:34, 32nd).

Next up for the Vineyard harriers is the Coaches Invitational Meet, on Saturday in Wrentham.