XC Finds Best Footing at MIAA State Meet

Wrentham, Mass. — At the start of the season, the Catholic Memorial cross country team’s goal was to finish in the top 10 of the MIAA Division 1 Championship Meet and top runner C.J. Sullivan aimed to be one of the first five to cross the finish line.

With an eight-place finish in the team standings, and a top-five showing for Sullivan, consider this mission accomplished. 

The Knights’ five scorers all ran the 5K course at the Wrentham Developmental Center under 17 minutes, a first for the season, as CM turned out their best cross country team performance of the season at their first appearance at the meet in 15 years.

Sullivan was the first CM runner across the finish line. Running with the front pack for the entire race, the junior finished in fifth place with a personal best of 15:33.7. Sullivan will race again on November 27 at the NXR Northeast & New York Regional Championships at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, New York. 

Junior John Garvey completed the course in 16:17.9, good enough for 36th place, and Michael Bane’s time of 16:42.2 saw him finish in 83rd place. Joseph Connolly and Dean Simmons rounded out the scoring five, finishing in 113th and 126th place with times of 16:54 and 16:59.2.

Lucas Gutz and Ryan Flynn finished in 180th and 183rd with times of 18:49.9 and 19:04.2.