OA’s Sobieraj uses perfect strategy to race to victory
Experience and strategic thinking played a big role in Katie Sobieraj capturing the girls’ varsity title at the 62nd annual Catholic Memorial Invitational cross-country race.
The Oliver Ames senior completed the 3.1mile Franklin Park layout in 18 minutes 52 seconds Saturday morning. Sobieraj, the top Tigers runner since her freshman year, had an eight-second lead over Alison Pankowicz of Toll Gate.
Sobieraj said she let her instinct kick in during the last leg of the run.
“I knew that the Bear Cage Hill was coming,” Sobieraj said. “I wanted to keep pushing ’til I got done with it. That’s what really gave me the lead.”
While Sobieraj was satisfied with her performance, her eyes are set on the Hockomock League championship later this month. She said she has a point to prove.
“I passed out at the tournament last year and I kind of missed my chance,” she said. “I want to have another go at it.”
Junior Matthew Giardina of Bishop Guertin in Nashua, N.H., had a confident smile plastered on his face as he cooled down after winning the boys’ first varsity race in 15:36.2.
Giardina had a close contest with Isaac Mahler of Hall High in West Hartford, Conn., who finished second (15:47.6). What separated the two at the end was Giardina’s approach.
“I analyzed where I can take the lead and break off from everyone else,” Giardina said. “I tried to stay with them as far as I could on the uphill and the bottom during the downhill, and then took the lead.”
Billerica senior Ryan Leslie emerged as the winner in the second boys varsity race, in 16:05.5. He was followed by Atticus Kaye from Somerville (16:26.4).