On Saturday September 14, the girls cross country team had their first race of the season on their home course. It was raining as the girls were warming up, but it had stopped raining and was quite warm and humid as the race began. The girls did not let that stop them from their goal of having everyone finish the race and beating St. George’s. The race was a combined varsity and JV race, but a varsity and JV race was scored separately. All thirty four girls who started the race finished, with many finishing their first cross country race ever as there are only 15 returning runners.

Third former Judy Xie led her teammates by winning the race. She was followed closely by fourth formers Natalie Zaterka and Nashua Poreda. Rounding out the varsity were: Kendall Sommers ‘22, co-captain Lindsay Davis ‘21, Eve Elkins ‘21 and Marianne Lyons ‘22. Both Marianne and Nashua were running in their first cross country races.

Leading the JV race was new runner sixth former Paige LaMalva, followed by Emily Taylor ‘20, Lily Walsh ‘22, Helena Xie ‘22, Daniela Ortiz ‘21, Andria Bao ‘23, and Kaley LeBlanc ‘21 These girls were running in a strong pack and finished all in a row.

Two returning runners: Laura Sabino ‘20 and Eve Elkins ‘21 ran career personal bests, a rare thing this early in the season, but also an indicator of having done summer training.

It was a great start to the season. The girls are looking forward to the race next week which is again at home.

On Saturday September 21, the girls cross country team hosted St. Paul’s, a perennially strong team. Despite the heat, the girls ran well with many running improved times from the week before. The lead pack of Natalie Zaterka ‘22, Judy Xie ‘23 and Nashua Poreda ‘22 held off all but one of the St. Paul’s runners. This week, Natalie finished first for the Lion’s right behind St. Paul’s top runner. She was closely followed by Nashua and then Judy. Unfortunately, St. Paul’s had a strong pack who was able to get in between our top three and the next three securing their slim victory. Rounding out the top seven for us were Lindsay Davis ‘21, Eve Elkins ‘21, Kendall Sommers ‘22 and Marianne Lyons ‘22.

The girls once again ran in one big race with the JV scored by taking out the top seven runners. The St. Mark’s JV easily bested St. Paul’s with Andria Bao ‘23 being our first JV runner. The other girls who scored in the JV race were Lily Walsh ‘22, Emily Taylor ‘20, Kaley LeBlanc ‘21, Daniela Ortiz ‘21, and Paige La Malva ‘20.

Before and after the race, the girls held a bake sale to support our former captain and four year varsity runner Sophie Haugen ‘18 who is running in the Dana Farber half marathon in October. The girls were amazed that they were able to raise $370 for Sophie’s fundraising efforts.

On Saturday October 5 the JV girls cross country team traveled to Cambridge to face BBN, Nobles and Brooks at BBN’s home course at Fresh Pond. It was a beautiful fall day and a perfect day for racing. Many girls ran season best and career best times. The team was able to beat Brooks who did not have a complete team, but lost to both BBN and Nobles. Daniela Ortiz ‘21 led her teammates running a season best time and finishing 9th overall. She was followed by third formers Ivy Li and Andria Bao. Kaley LeBlanc ‘21 and Helena Xie ’22 were the two remaining scoring runners who both ran career best times on the fast course. Many of the new runners broke time goals and had strong finishes. They are looking forward to their Family Weekend home race on October 12.

On Saturday October 19 the St. Mark’s girls cross country team traveled to Tabor to race rival Groton and Tabor. Tabor hosted only one girls race but scored a separate JV race between Groton and St Mark’s.

The JV team led by Emily Taylor ‘20 easily bested Groton earning a point towards the raccoon coat. Emily was closely followed by the other six scoring runners who all finished within 37 seconds of each other. The six others who earned the victory were: Lily Walsh ‘22, Ivy Li ‘23, Ingrid Yeung ‘23, Helena Xie ‘22, Kaley LeBlanc ‘21 and co-captain Naila Strong ‘20.

The varsity team was lead by Nashua Poreda ‘22 who finished third overall. She was followed closely by Judy Xie ‘23 and Natalie Zaterka ‘22. Kendall Sommers ‘22 passed three runners near the finish, including a Groton runner at the line to be our fourth finisher. Lindsay Davis was our final scorer against Groton. Dani Ortiz and Eve Elkins rounded out the seven varsity runners and were displacers against Tabor. Though we came close, the varsity was unable to beat Groton. However, they did come away victorious against Tabor.

Many girls ran season best times while Laura Sabino ‘20 and Princess Alexander ‘22 ran career bests on Tabor’s course.

The girls are looking forward to their final race before the championships which will be October 26 at Lawrence Academy.

On Saturday September 14, the girls cross country team had their first race of the season on their home course. It was raining as the girls were warming up, but it had stopped raining and was quite warm and humid as the race began. The girls did not let that stop them from their goal of having everyone finish the race and beating St. George’s. The race was a combined varsity and JV race, but a varsity and JV race was scored separately. All thirty four girls who started the race finished, with many finishing their first cross country race ever as there are only 15 returning runners.

Third former Judy Xie led her teammates by winning the race. She was followed closely by fourth formers Natalie Zaterka and Nashua Poreda. Rounding out the varsity were: Kendall Sommers ‘22, co-captain Lindsay Davis ‘21, Eve Elkins ‘21 and Marianne Lyons ‘22. Both Marianne and Nashua were running in their first cross country races.

Leading the JV race was new runner sixth former Paige LaMalva, followed by Emily Taylor ‘20, Lily Walsh ‘22, Helena Xie ‘22, Daniela Ortiz ‘21, Andria Bao ‘23, and Kaley LeBlanc ‘21 These girls were running in a strong pack and finished all in a row.

Two returning runners: Laura Sabino ‘20 and Eve Elkins ‘21 ran career personal bests, a rare thing this early in the season, but also an indicator of having done summer training.

It was a great start to the season. The girls are looking forward to the race next week which is again at home.

On Saturday September 21, the girls cross country team hosted St. Paul’s, a perennially strong team. Despite the heat, the girls ran well with many running improved times from the week before. The lead pack of Natalie Zaterka ‘22, Judy Xie ‘23 and Nashua Poreda ‘22 held off all but one of the St. Paul’s runners. This week, Natalie finished first for the Lion’s right behind St. Paul’s top runner. She was closely followed by Nashua and then Judy. Unfortunately, St. Paul’s had a strong pack who was able to get in between our top three and the next three securing their slim victory. Rounding out the top seven for us were Lindsay Davis ‘21, Eve Elkins ‘21, Kendall Sommers ‘22 and Marianne Lyons ‘22.

The girls once again ran in one big race with the JV scored by taking out the top seven runners. The St. Mark’s JV easily bested St. Paul’s with Andria Bao ‘23 being our first JV runner. The other girls who scored in the JV race were Lily Walsh ‘22, Emily Taylor ‘20, Kaley LeBlanc ‘21, Daniela Ortiz ‘21, and Paige La Malva ‘20.

Before and after the race, the girls held a bake sale to support our former captain and four year varsity runner Sophie Haugen ‘18 who is running in the Dana Farber half marathon in October. The girls were amazed that they were able to raise $370 for Sophie’s fundraising efforts.

On Saturday October 5 the JV girls cross country team traveled to Cambridge to face BBN, Nobles and Brooks at BBN’s home course at Fresh Pond. It was a beautiful fall day and a perfect day for racing. Many girls ran season best and career best times. The team was able to beat Brooks who did not have a complete team, but lost to both BBN and Nobles. Daniela Ortiz ‘21 led her teammates running a season best time and finishing 9th overall. She was followed by third formers Ivy Li and Andria Bao. Kaley LeBlanc ‘21 and Helena Xie ’22 were the two remaining scoring runners who both ran career best times on the fast course. Many of the new runners broke time goals and had strong finishes. They are looking forward to their Family Weekend home race on October 12.

On Saturday October 19 the St. Mark’s girls cross country team traveled to Tabor to race rival Groton and Tabor. Tabor hosted only one girls race but scored a separate JV race between Groton and St Mark’s.

The JV team led by Emily Taylor ‘20 easily bested Groton earning a point towards the raccoon coat. Emily was closely followed by the other six scoring runners who all finished within 37 seconds of each other. The six others who earned the victory were: Lily Walsh ‘22, Ivy Li ‘23, Ingrid Yeung ‘23, Helena Xie ‘22, Kaley LeBlanc ‘21 and co-captain Naila Strong ‘20.

The varsity team was lead by Nashua Poreda ‘22 who finished third overall. She was followed closely by Judy Xie ‘23 and Natalie Zaterka ‘22. Kendall Sommers ‘22 passed three runners near the finish, including a Groton runner at the line to be our fourth finisher. Lindsay Davis was our final scorer against Groton. Dani Ortiz and Eve Elkins rounded out the seven varsity runners and were displacers against Tabor. Though we came close, the varsity was unable to beat Groton. However, they did come away victorious against Tabor.

Many girls ran season best times while Laura Sabino ‘20 and Princess Alexander ‘22 ran career bests on Tabor’s course.

The girls are looking forward to their final race before the championships which will be October 26 at Lawrence Academy.