Cross country shines at MASCAC Championship

By Izabela Gage

Sports Editor

By Taylor Kimmell

Asst. Sports Editor

Men’s and women’s cross country competed in the MASCAC Championship meet at Stanley Park in Westfield Nov. 1.

Head Coach Mark Johnson said Stanley Park is “a relatively fast course when it comes to cross country. …  I would say the biggest challenge the course brings is a sneaky hill toward the end of both races. It’s not the longest hill, but at that point in those races, it takes drive and grit to break it.”

The men’s team placed fourth out of six teams in the 8K, with an average time of 28:50.03. 

Sophomore Aaron Corlette was the top finisher for the Rams, placing ninth with a time of 27:11.97.

Corlette said, “It’s a good feeling to have knowing I finished top 10, but I know I could’ve done better, so heading into regionals, I will be looking forward to seeing what I do while having some fun.”

He added the team is focusing on better outcomes and working on “staying tight and together and staying on track. With one more race left in the season, we want the seniors to have a great finish.”

Corlette was named to the 2025 MASCAC Men’s Cross Country All-Conference Team Nov. 5. 

Johnson said, “Right out the gate, [Corlette] was with the lead pack, which was exciting to watch. 

“As the race was winding down with about a mile to go, Aaron was sitting just outside the top ten for place. I shouted at him if he wanted ‘All Conference,’ he had to knock off a few runners in front of him. And, as Aaron always seems to do, he turned on a new gear, and went at it,” he added. 

With a time of 27:27.06, sophomore Vincent Gauthier followed Corlette, placing 12th.

Gauthier said, “We had an excellent team performance at MASCACs when looking at the school's history. Having a balanced group with good front-runners, along with some great anchors, really helped us achieve that.”

Junior Ayden Giombetti crossed the finish line next, placing 25th with a time of 29:09.05.

Parker Winters, a senior, finished with a time of 29:55.97, earning 30th place.

Winters said placing 30th “is my best finish in the four years that I have raced as a part of this amazing team. I’m not really concerned about my place, and it doesn’t really change my thought process going into regionals.

“The focus this year has always been on the team,” he added.

Senior Jazmany Reyes placed 35th with a time of 30:26.06, and freshman Jeremy Gale finished next for the Rams, earning a time of 30:44.63 and placing 38th.

Crossing the finish line in 43rd place, junior Robert Perruzzi earned a time of 31:16.59.

Captain Bruno Barbosa, a senior, followed only 15 seconds behind Perruzzi and placed 48th with a time of 31:33.80.

Barbosa said, “For the entire season, we have had a great mental place, and we plan to keep the same headspace going into regionals. We all have the headspace of, ‘If we fall, we get back up stronger.’”

Senior Biruk Alemu finished with a time of 32:12.12, earning 53rd place.

James Appiah, a sophomore, placed 59th with a time of 32:48.00.

Freshman Liam Devaney was the last Ram to cross the finish line at 38:05.23, earning 69th place.

Winters said, “With the absurd amount of PRs and school records that have been broken this season, you can tell that our team has been pushing ourselves to our max and giving everything we've got, and that Coach’s plan has certainly worked for us this season. Many of us have reached and surpassed our season's goals, and I couldn’t be any prouder of my team.”

In the 5K, the women’s team placed fourth out of seven teams, with an average time of 21:26.33.

Captain Meghan Johnston, a senior, finished first for the Rams, earning 12th place with a time of 20:19.82.

Johnston said being the first finisher for FSU was “really cool, but my confidence honestly comes from the whole season and how much growth I have seen not only within myself, but with the whole team.”

Johnson said Johnston has had a successful year, “stringing together personal bests in both the 5K and 6K. From the start of the year, through MASCACs, she’s done a great job coming in every day with determination, and pushing both herself and her teammates. She took that energy to the starting line on Saturday, and continued to show that drive and determination to our team.”

Less than a minute behind, junior Natalie Grimaldo finished with a time of 21:16.99, placing 21st.

Grimaldo said, “Placing in the top 25 gives me a big confidence boost going into regionals. It shows that all my hard work is paying off, and it motivates me to keep getting better. I’m determined to do even more and make my team proud at the next level.”

She said she is “focusing on just improving my pacing and staying consistent throughout the race.”

Rounding out the top 25, sophomore Grace Avery placed 24th with a time of 21:24.27.

Avery said her placement “has boosted my confidence a lot going into regionals. It has also made me determined to push myself in a field with a lot more competition.”

She said going into regionals, she’s focusing on “mental toughness. Running a tough course puts a lot of things in your head. I’m working to shape my mindset in a way that allows me to enjoy running, even when it’s hard.”

Senior Justine Pickard followed close behind, placing 27th with a time of 21:34.95.

Next to cross the finish line for the Rams was junior Camille Graffeo at 22:35.59, earning 32nd place.

Freshman Abigail Flanagan finished with a time of 23:08.74, placing 39th.

Following her was Captain Lydia Marunowski, a senior, who placed 42nd with a time of 23:25.83, and junior Justinne Quinanola, who placed 44th with a time of 23:41.11.

Sophomore Alison Hood placed 48th with a time of 24:04.53.

The last two Rams to cross the finish line were juniors Cassie Toth and Olivia Poole, who earned 53rd and 55th with times of 25:04.19 and 25:46.88, respectively.  

Both teams will compete in the NCAA Regionals to close out their season Nov. 15.

Gauthier said, “Regionals is just another race - we know how to come to the plate on race day, so we don’t need to think about it too hard.”

Winters said the only thing he is focusing on going into regionals is “taking in the time I have with my wonderful team, fellow seniors, and my coaches while I close out my chapter of being a collegiate athlete.”

He added, “The mindset of the rest of the team is the same as the rest of the season, which consists of trusting Coach’s plan, and finishing this last race with a bang. Practices have always been a blast and will continue to be, and we are just trying to end this fantastic season the right way.”

Avery said she thinks the team “is focusing on building out strength physically and mentally.”

Grimaldo said for her and the team, “It's all about keeping a positive mindset and trusting our training. We want to go into regionals confident, relaxed, and ready to give everything we’ve got.”

She added, “We’re proud of how we did at MASCACs, but we know there’s always room to grow. As a team, we’re focusing on finishing stronger in the last mile.”

Corlette said, “In my opinion, some of the teams’ growth has come from the power of Gushers and everyone staying together as a team and family. We push each other to be better and keep our heads high, and with, of course, the leadership of our coaches investing so much of their time to help us improve.”

Avery said, “Our team dynamic has contributed the most to both teams' success. Every day, both teams keep showing up, doing our best, and having fun while doing it.”

Grimaldo said everyone has been supportive and motivated this season, and that has played into the growth they’ve had. “Both teams have really stepped up, pushing each other in practices, staying consistent, and keeping a positive attitude. The energy and teamwork have made a huge difference, and that’s what’s been leading to all the personal bests and broken records. We always push each other to do better!”

Johnston said, “We all have our good days and bad days, but no matter what, we always have each other’s backs and are cheering each other on.”

She added, “We have been working so hard this season, and it has paid off in our races. The mindset for the team is to be confident in our training, go do what we love, and do our best for the last race of the season!”

Gauthier said as long as everyone sets a strong base with summer training, “then our coach can give us the workouts that will make us perform. With good aerobics, conditioning, and trust in our coach, we excel.”

Barbosa said, “We all are focusing on keeping good form and staying healthy. At the point we are at now, we are thinking of next season and what to do better next season. The biggest thing is going into the next cross country season with a good base. [You] can’t build a building without a good foundation.”

Johnson said, “Going into regionals, I really just want the team to take in the weekend - take in where we are, take in the competition that we’re racing against, and take in the moment. 

“We’re just controlling the things we can - taking care of our bodies and finishing on a strong note! We’ve had an incredible year, and I’m excited to be with both of these teams one more time as we head to Hopkinton State Park in New Hampshire next week!” he added.