Rocha blazes to win at Kelley Invitational

WRENTHAM — With a clear lead over the field while passing the two-mile mark in 9 minutes, 45 seconds, Peabody’s Marcelo Rocha wasn’t about to ease off the throttle in the Division 1 race at yesterday’s Frank Kelley Cross Country Invitational.

Touted as the best distance runner in Massachusetts, the Peabody senior was putting in his first hard effort of the season. Rocha was by himself through a blazing 4:45 first mile and the race for first place was all but over on the 3.1-mile Wrentham Developmental Center layout.

The Herald All-Scholastic crossed the finish line in a swift 15:36, 20 seconds ahead of Tristan Shelgren of St. John’s Prep. Rocha was pleased by the effort and knows he will only get better moving forward.

“It was tough last year getting second (at AllStates) but I was still happy with my race,” he said. “(Winning All-States is) the goal I’ve been looking forward to all summer. (Today) I wanted to see where I was physically so far this season. I wanted to test myself.”

Lincoln-Sudbury’s Alexa Babick had a pack of six to contend with through the mile (5:50) and two-mile (11:55) marks of the girls Division 1 event. Babick surged at the 2 1⁄4 mark and broke up the pack with Franklin’s Nicole Clermont the lone harrier still with her.

Babick’s final surge came a little over a quarter mile later, and she was able to break the tenacious Clermont and hold on for the win in 18:58. Clermont was a solid second in 19:07.

Like Rocha, Div. 2 winner Brandon Hall of Hopedale had no challengers. The junior, second last week to Newburyport’s Jack Carleo at the Ocean State Invitational, surged across the finish line in 16:21. Matt Greatorex of Wakefield was well back in second at 16:34.

“I proved that I can compete against the best in Div. 2 in the state,” said Hall.

Westwood’s Ashley Walker shook loose of a pack that included Sarah Tully of Wayland and Duxbury’s Katie Cass for the win in Div. 2 girls race. Walker surged hard to win in 19:17. Tully was second in 19:24 and Cass was a few steps back in 19:27. The pack went through the mile in a slowish 6:05 before picking up the pace.

“Once I hit the second mile, I tried to just go for it,” said Walker. “It was nice to have someone to run with. I ran with (Tully) for the first two miles, then I could feel her pushing me from behind.”