Pomperaug Runner Makes Top 10 at National Finals

SAN DIEGO, CA — A first-year runner from Marianapolis Preparatory School in Thompson captured first place in the 40th annual Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships Saturday at Balboa Park in San Diego, Calif.

In the girls’ 5K race, Sydney Masciarelli overtook Katelynne Hart of Glen Ellyn, Ill. in the final few meters to showcase a phenomenal finish, winning in a time of 17:00.3, surpassing Jordan Hasay’s 2005 record as the fastest first-timer at the National Finals.

Masciarelli, a sophomore from Northbridge, Mass., did a lot of kicking while playing soccer in her freshman year at Marianapolis, but saved her best kick for Saturday. The last mile turned into a classic two-girl duel, including multiple lead changes in the final 200 meters, until Masciarelli ultimately prevailed at the tape, winning by seven-tenths of a second.

Kate Wiser of Southbury, a sophomore at Pomperaug High School, took seventh in the girls' race, finishing in 17:32.2. She had qualified for the nationals by placing fifth in the Northeast Regional race last weekend in New York City.

The nationals capped off an amazing year for Wiser, including these victorious highlights:

• Wilton Invitational, won by 58 seconds
• Wickham Invitational, won by 10 seconds
• SWC Championships, won by 1 min. 36 seconds
• Class MM Championships, won by 1 min. 9 seconds
• State Open, won by 59 seconds
• New England Championships, won by 38 seconds
  

Connecticut's two boys did not fare quite as well as the girls. Matthew Farrell of Glastonbury, a junior at the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, was 23rd (16:04.9), while Wallingford's Mustafe Dahir, a senior at Choate Rosemary Hall, placed 30th (16:18.3).

See the complete results of both races here.

Photo and video credits: Photorun.net for Foot Locker Cross Country

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