Clippers win division title
Anderson guides Cumberland to sweep
CUMBERLAND — When you're under strict instructions not to put out a maximum effort, you follow orders.
Such was the message Cumberland High veteran mentor Vanessa Molloy issued to her troops prior to their Northern Division dual-meet finale at the Cumberland Monastery on Tuesday afternoon.
“Our plan was to go a little bit easier (Tuesday) because we had run so hard at (the Maine Festival of Champions in Belmont) on Saturday,” Molloy stated. “We ran great, so I asked the girls to take this one more relaxed. I wanted to make sure they'd run within themselves, and also remain healthy for upcoming meets.”
Her girls listened, but they still indicated they were surprised at how quick their times were. Sophomore Adah Anderson covered the 3.1-mile trail in a triumphant 19:47, while senior Grace Henson took second (19:53), and freshmen Olivia Belt (19:59), Bailee Brown (20:04); and Lizzie Pickering (21:21) third, fourth and sixth, respectively.
With those placements, the Clippers captured yet another divisional regular-season dual-meet crown, doing so with a perfect 11-0 slate.
“What's so amazing is that Adah, Gracie and Olivia all ran sub-20 minutes, which is fantastic when they're not going all out,” Molloy noted. “Plus, so many of the girls ran PRs, and that's the strength of the training we've been doing.
“Everything is starting to click,” she added. “Now we're moving into the championship season, the dual-meet season is over, so this is when everything should be working, and should be seeing progress, feeling stronger.”
Sophomore Sara DaVeiga paced Central Falls, which also sustained a 1550 loss to the Chieftains and a 22-36 decision to North Providence, finishing 14th overall in a PR of 23:12.
I don't know what my tine was, but it felt fast,” she said. “I started out pretty quick, then tried to maintain my pace and – toward the end – I gave it all I had … This is my first time here, and the hills didn't really bother me. I actually pushed it on them because I wanted to do a best time.”
Senior Lissette Batista de Leon managed 22nd overall for the Warriors (24:29), while Jerlian Hernandez took 38th (28:25).