X Country: Brams Sets (Another) Course Record; Boys' Run By Tanners

Belmont High School Girls' Cross Country Head Coach Brian Dunn knew that yesterday's, Tuesday, Oct. 1, matchup with the Woburn High girls was "huge." But not just for the team, but also for his standout runner, one of the best young runners in the state.

Usually, Dunn is confident that sophomore Leah Brams will take first place in the race; she is undefeated in all Middlesex League races and finished seventh in the state finals last November. 

But for the first time, Dunn thought there was a runner who could stay with Brams over the entire course. 

Woburn junior Gina D'Addario ran a 5:18 mile on the track in May and was coming into the race undefeated on the trails after a strong summer training regiment.  

"[D'Addario] has exploded in spring track and it's still unknown what she can do," said Dunn. For the team, the contest would be decided by the fourth and fifth runners where, Dunn admitted, Woburn had the edge.

"It will be close, maybe three to five points between us," said Dunn.

When the race finally got underway on the warm afternoon – a half-hour behind time due to some "gamesmanship" by the Woburn team as they arrived late and spent twice as long to tour the course – Brams took a quick lead over D'Addario at the sound of the gun.

And that advantage grew with each step.

Brams was eight seconds up on D'Addario after the first lap around Clay Pit (at the chestnut tree) and 17 seconds in the lead at the small bridge with a lap-and-a-quarter around the pond remaining in the race. 

The Belmont High star simply powered away from D'Addario to finish the 3.1 mile (5 kilometer) Belmont course in the clear in 19 minutes and 24 seconds, a new course record and PR for Brams.

D'Addario finished 33 seconds later, in 19:57, only the second young woman to break the 20 minute barrier and marks the first time two female runners finished under 20 minutes at Clay Pit.

While Brams demonstrated her dominance again over her home course, Woburn showed its depth with their runners finishing second, fourth, and importantly sixth, seventh and eighth. Belmont's solid senior Julia Lenef (21:05) moved up a few positions in the final half of the race for fourth with sophomore Sophia Klimasmith (21:14) in sixth. About a minute later senior Lia Aftandilian (22:16) just beat out freshman Elizabeth Silletto (22:18) for 10th.

While Dunn did say it was "a good meet" for his girls, Belmont (3-1) fell from the undefeated, 25-32, to Woburn which won its first meet of the season (1-3).

Boys' run by Tanners

Boys' Head Coach Bill Brotchie said this year's team was one of the easiest to coach in recent memory.

"They work hard with an idea that this will help them in winter track," said Brotchie, who said there has been a renaissance in the sport. Just a few years ago, it was a struggle to find the minimum seven students to participate in the sport. This year, there is well over 40 runners, many underclassmen. 

And that work ethic is producing results as the times the top runners are producing some of the fastest over the Clay Pit course.

"We are stronger as a team in many years," said Brotchie.

On Tuesday, Belmont's top runners, senior Lewis Silletto and junior Tim Siracusa (17:23), ran together and sprinted to a 1-2 finish to lead the Marauders (2-2) to a 23-36 victory over Woburn (0-4), with Silletto finishing in 17 minutes and 21 seconds, four seconds from his course PR. 

Senior James Stadler (18:07) finished in 5th followed by junior Seth Altman (18:21) with senior David Green (18:44), junior Charles Smith (18:57) and senior Peter Staub (19:02) coming in 8th, 9th and 10th.