Cross country sets the pace at Keene State Invitational

By Izabela Gage Sports Editor The women’s and men’s cross country teams competed in the Keene State College Invitational Oct. 4.

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

Head Coach Mark Johnson said, “This meet was probably one of the most competitive cross country meets that we've ever gone to for Framingham State. It included two of the top-10 teams in the country for DIII, and a bunch of the top-ranked teams in our region.” He said, “There were close to 300 people in the race, and you had to fight for your position right from the gate - I think both teams did a great job doing so.” The men’s team placed 22nd out of 26 teams with an average time of 29:13 for the 8K course. Junior Ayden Giombetti said, “I think that the average result shows that we have put in lots of work and effort, and everyone did really well.” Sophomore Aaron Corlette led the men’s team in the 8K course, placing 66th out of 277, with a time of 27:12.4. Corlette said, “I felt fine during the race, but I didn’t [meet] the goal I had set before the race, as I always have my expectations high for myself. But I never let that get in the way of me helping the whole team while also pushing myself to be better.” The next Ram to cross the finish line was sophomore Vincent Gauthier, with a time of 28:14.9, placing 144th. Giombetti finished for the Rams at 29:31, earning 194th place, and senior Parker Winters ended with a time of 30:30.9, placing 219th. Junior Robert Perruzzi and senior Jazmany Reyes rounded out the top six for Framingham at 30:36.2 and 30:39.5, placing 224th and 226th, respectively. Johnson said, “One of our newbie seniors, Jazmany, PR’d about four minutes, which in the 8K is a crazy drop.” Corlette said, “We had some very impressive results that all of the team was proud of. We wanted to finish strong, and we did so.” Giombetti said, “We have all worked together during training and meets to push each other to be better, and we are closer because of that.” The women’s team placed 18th out of 26 teams with an average time of 25:43 for the 6K course. The Rams were led by Captain Kate Buban, a junior, placing 56th out of 288 with a time of 23:29.4, breaking the all-time school record for the second time this season. Buban said, “I think it was one of the hardest races I've had with the heat, but the course was flat, so that was to my advantage.” Captain Meghan Johnston, a senior, was the next Ram to finish with a time of 25:09.3, earning 116th place. Junior Natalie Grimaldo followed with a time of 26:02.8, finishing 164th. Sophomore Grace Avery crossed the finish line next at 26:13.1, in 169th place, and sophomore Abigail Flanagan rounded out the top five finishers at 27:42, placing 220th. Less than a minute later, Captain Lydia Marunowksi, a senior, followed, earning 236th place after crossing the finish line at 28:40.5. Buban said, “I think everyone's putting the time and the work in, so just continuing to be on that upward trend, and we have a good vibe going.” Johnston said, “Everyone on the team has been working really hard this season, and that has really been showing in our races.” Johnson said across the board, the teams have been in high spirits. “Thursday, we’re at practice running over near Bowditch, and I had made a joke about just the giggliness of the team and the positive energy and vibes - I think they carried that into Saturday. The PRs that occurred were big time. Kate PR’d by five seconds, which, for a top runner, is a big, big drop. Lydia PR’d by almost 40 seconds.” Both teams travel to Westfield State University to compete in the James Earley Invitational Oct. 11. Johnson said, “I’m proud of the team and excited to see where we go come MASCACs in a couple of weeks.” Johnston said, “We are a very close-knit team and all care a lot about each other.” Corlette said the team’s chemistry is his favorite part of the program because both teams are so close. “I always tell them, ‘We are “one team, one heart,” and of course, “one family.”’ We check up and make sure everyone is doing OK, and help one another out.”