THE WAKEFIELD HIGH boys’ cross country team celebrates their 6th consecutive Middlesex League Freedom Division championship after their win over Stoneham on Thursday cemented another undefeated season. (Courtesy Photo)
WOBURN — It felt good to be back in Woburn on Monday for the first time since 2019.
Could it be because it’s one of the most exciting races every fall? Could it be because the Freedom Division teams and Liberty Division teams have a chance to finally face off for the first time all season?
Or could it be that the Warriors came away with the overall team victory on the boys’ side to go along with their Freedom Division title?
The meet that has been contested since 1970 has always brought out the best in the Middlesex League competition and 2021 was no different. This year, there were five teams in the conversation prior to the meet. Lexington has won six of the last 10 years and is always a factor. Arlington, Reading, Burlington, and Wakefield were considered contenders.
The Warriors were able to win with a score of 63 points over Arlington who scored 71 points.
Michael Roberto was fantastic as he led Wakefield with a first place finish, winning over the 5K course in a time of 15:45.04 to hold off Arlington’s Justin Eastman who finished in 15:45.64. Roberto was patient and ran with the lead pack for most of the race and made his move over the last 400 meters of the course. He held off a strong effort by Eastman over the last yards of the race.
Roberto is the first Wakefield runner to win the prestigious title since Stephen Robertson who won in 2011.
Leith Jones had a breakout race placing 8th in a time of 16:18. Ajay Haridasse was strong as he placed 9th in 16:22. Thomas Dowd placed 17th in 16:38. Michael Arria placed 28th in 17:05. Ben Stratton was 35th place in 17:19. James Christie placed 52nd in 18:27.
The Warriors were also excellent in the JV race placing 3rd as a team to show off the teams’ depth. William Mezikofsky was the first Warrior to cross the line placing 6th in a time of 17:55. Joe Patt also ran a great race placing 7th in 18:01. Bradley Diaz was 11th in 18:08. Ollie Polster was 14th and Matt McCoy placed 15th in 18:11 and 18:12 to round out the team score.
Sam Bangston placed 17th in 18:15. Robert Brown placed 22nd in 18:28. Brendan Campea placed 24th in 18:32. Brett McLellan placed 26th in 18:36. David LoCoco placed 34th in 18:52. Shahbaz Anwar placed 47th in 19:48. Cooper Davis placed 100th in a time of 21:20. Adam Lambiaso placed 122nd in a time of 21:56. Declan Carney placed 136th in a time of 22:58. Theo Lyle placed 143rd in 23:23. Marcus Conte placed 146th in a time of 23:38. Dante Russo was 157th in a time of 25:54.
In the freshmen 3K race, the boys placed 5th as a team. Brandon Nett placed 7th in a time of 10:44.03. Andrew Nett placed 8th in 10:44.72. Aidan Martin was 29th in 11:44. Marcello Caruso placed 40th in 12:13. Brody Wyatt placed 42nd in 12:15. Ben Hickey placed 51st in 12:44.
“I’m so proud of the boys today,” said head coach Perry Pappas. “They have been working so hard to have this day and earned it in a big way. They have been through injuries and sickness over the last month but that didn’t distract them from their goal.
“This should give them confidence as they head into the MIAA Championships in two weeks.”
Earn Freedom title with undefeated season
The Warriors finished out their regular season with a convincing 15-50 win over Stoneham on Thursday, securing their 6th consecutive Freedom Division title and another undefeated season.
Sophomore Joe Patt led the way getting the win in a time of 17:27 on the 2.8 mile course.
Patt was followed by 10 more Warriors before Stoneham’s first runner crossed the line. Matt McCoy was 2nd (17:29), Sam Bangston 3rd(17:29), Brandon Nett 4th(17:31), Robert Brown 5th(17:55), Brendan Campea 6th(17:57), Ollie Polster 7th(18:00), Andrew Nett 8th(18:01), Shahbaz Anwar 9th(18:07), Brett McLellan 10th(18:07), and David LoCoco 11th(18:10).
Next came Marcello Caruso in 15th(20:21), Brody Wyatt 17th(20:57), Aidan Martin 18th(20:59), James Christie(21:14), Michael Arria(21:14), Ben Stratton(21:15), Ajay Haridasse(21:16), Ben Hickey(21:25), Marcus Conte(23:24), Theo Lyle(24:50), and Declan Carney(27:42).