Middle School Cross Country Runners Conquer Seaside Course

Marblehead Middle School's cross country runners competed in their fourth meet of the year Wednesday taking on Danvers at Seaside Park.

Marblehead's Grace McGuire came in first for the girls, finishing the 1.54-mile course in 10 minutes 12 seconds.

Marblehead girls placed seven runners among the first eight finishers, said coach Patrick McIntosh. 

The team is 3-1 on the season and has a strong contingent of eighth graders and an up-and-coming group of seventh graders, he said.

Connor Ohlson was Marblehead's top finisher in the boy's race, coming in third with a time of 9 minutes 54 seconds.

The boys are 2-2 on the season and have many younger runners, the coach said.

The boys and girls teams combined have 49 members. That is more than twice as many as the 20 runners on the two teams last year, the coach said.

He attributes the growth to the success and fun the teams had last year. Word spread and interest grew.

Seventh grader Izzie Castineyra is in her first year of running. She took up the sport to stay in shape for other sports in other parts of the year, she said.

Izzie said cross country is tiring but once you get out there and get past the pain it is gratifying and fun.