By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — In their season opener on Sept. 10, the Lynnfield High girls’ cross country team lost, 23-34, to visiting Manchester-Essex on a warm, sunny day.
“The girls ran well but we just came up short,” said Pioneers second-year head coach Liane Cook.
Abby Lopez came in first place overall, finishing the 2.9-mile course at 19:44. It was the senior co-captain’s first-ever under 20-minute time.
The Hornets then captured second and third place.
Coming in 4th was junior co-captain, Maeve Wertz, with a time of 22:15 as she topped her career-best time by seven seconds.
Manchester-Essex placed 5th, 6th and 7th.
“Taking those three places was the key for them,” said Cook. “They had a little more depth than we did.”
In 8th was first-year runner, senior Sophie Kennison with a time of 23:38. Shea Moore, another senior co-captain, captured 10th at 24:40.
On Wednesday, the Pioneers visit Ipswich at 3:30 p.m. for the second meet of the year.