Sports

X Country: Brams Breaks Own Course Record As Girls, Boys End Home Season

With a little less than a mile to go in the varsity girls cross country meet on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Belmont High School's sensational sophomore Leah Brams was in a familiar position, leading the race.

What was not following the usual plan was Lexington's junior Grace Vogelzang. For the previous two miles, the Minuteman's top harrier was staying within a handful of seconds of Brams, who finished 7th as a freshman at last year's state Division 2 championships. 

"You're only seven seconds behind her," yelled a Minuteman coach. "Stay with her!" 

Easier said then done.

And while Vogelzang finished Belmont's 3.1 mile (5 kilometer) Clay Pit Pond course in a remarkably fast 19 minutes and 34 seconds, it was Brams who was waiting for her to cross the finish line. 

In the second time in as many races, Brams broke her own record by seven seconds with a blistering 19:17 over her home course.

It was also the final time this season the Marauders (3-2) will be bounding over the course as future duel meets will be away from home.

The race was also the second consecutive time the top two female runners broke the 20 minute mark over the Belmont course.

As for the team, winning against an already strong team like unbeaten Lexington (5-0) – nearly 80 students tried out for cross country – was going to be a stiff challenge, made even more so with the injury of Belmont's rising sophomore and reliable number three Sophia Klimasmith. 

And the Minutemen showed their depth – six runners finished below 21 minutes – by taking the next eight places behind Brams to win 20-35. Belmont senior Julia Lenef finished 10th in 21:10 while freshman Elizabeth Silletto moved up to 22 minutes in 12th, her best effort this season. Seniors Lia Aftandilian and Alexis Kaihlanen took the final two scoring positions. 

Coming off a strong performance against Woburn the last time they were at home, the Belmont Boy Harriers (2-3) met a strong undefeated Lexington squad (5-0) on the Clay Pit course. And the Minutemen one-two punch of Ben Martell and Zach Manickas Hill led the way in securing a 24-33 Lexington win as the pair dipped below the 17 minute mark.

Close on their heels were Belmont junior Tim Siracusa in third (his 17:02 was a 21 second improvement from the Woburn meet) and senior Lewis Silletto in fourth in 17:17. Seniors James Stadler took 6th and David Green 8th with junior Charles Smith and senior Peter Staub coming in 12th and 13th. 

The Middlesex League meet will be held at Woburn Country Club on Monday, Oct. 28.


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