Runners speed to wins in perfect conditions
WRENTHAM — Carmen Luisi sidled up to the starting line of Saturday’s Frank Kelley Invitational hoping to cop a medal and maybe place somewhere in the top five of the open race.
Instead, the Holliston sophomore blitzed a solid field for a commanding victory in a race touted as the deepest of the day on the girls’ side.
Luisi drew clear of the field shortly after 800 meters and by the time she reached the mile 5:35 only Brookline’s Lucia Werner was in tow, 10 meters back. Luisi really gained ground on the field over the next mile and was 30 seconds ahead of the pack at 2 miles, which she passed in 11:25. Luisi continued to surge both on the uphills and downhills over the final mile and cruised home in a swift time of 17 minutes, 59.29 seconds over the 3.1-mile layout on the grounds of the Wrentham Developmental Center.
Luisi established a personal best by more than 20 seconds and broke 18 minutes for the first time.
“In the beginning I felt really strong, but I head to really push it over the last mile,” Luisi said. “Overall I felt really good. I ran well on the hills and pushed hard on the downhills.”
Luisi, racing on the rolling Wrentham course for the first time, was very aware that Werner was close early on. “There were some sharp turns and I took a quick look back to see where she was,” she said. “This was such a good field I wanted to see where everyone was.”
Three runners broke 19 minutes behind Luisi. Molly Kiley of Andover ran well for second in 18:32.06 and Miana Caraballo of Methuen clinched a bronze medal with her 18:46.42. Shae Regan of Littleton cracked into the top five with her 18:47.17.
Wellesley placed five harriers in the top 45 to clinch the team title with 92 points. Wachusett checked in with 107 points for second, just edging out Austin Prep’s 109 points.
Like Luisi, North Andover’s Ryan Connolly will have a title to defend next year after turning away a very competitive field in the boys’ open race. The junior held off a charging Michael Roberto of Wakefield to squeeze out an impressive win in 15:59.13. Roberto was two steps back in 15:59.39.
Connolly went out quick, but still conservative the first mile, and was in the midst of a four-runner pack at 5:02. He broke ahead shortly after on an uphill and had a small lead after a 5:06 second mile. Roberto closed the gap on the front runner over the final 400 meters, falling just short at the finish.
“I started to feel it over the third mile,” said the softspoken Connolly. “It was pretty rough. I heard all the cheers getting closer and closer, but I somehow had enough over the last 100 meters.”
Behind Connolly and Roberto, Logan Tracia of Peabody was third in 16:05.99 and Marshfield’s Drew Pesko clocked 16:06.88 for fourth. Cambridge’s Chris Gould clocked 16:07.37 to clinch fifth. North Andover’s Matt McDevitt and Luke Stad were 14th and 15th behind Connolly to help clinch the team title with 61 points. Brookline was second with 79 points, well ahead of third-place Wakefield’s 156 points.