Sports

Rocha Sets New Course Record at EMass

Peabody girls finish third and on to All-States behind record-setting pace by senior Catarina Rocha.

Fleet-footed runner Catarina Rocha set a new course record Saturday in Wrentham, just one of two females that day to break 18:00 at the Eastern Mass. Cross Country Championships.

Rocha, a senior at Peabody High, grabbed her third straight EMass Division I title, covering the 5K course in 17:27 and leading her team to a third place overall finish.

That other speedster was Bishop Feehan's Abby McNulty in 17:54, although she's in Division IV. The runner-up behind Rocha was Rebecca Grusby of Newton South in 18:18.

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Completing the scoring for the Tanners were Heather MacLean (5th, 18:54), Lauren Barrett (25th, 19:59), Antonia Pagliuca (32nd, 20:11) and Sydney May (54th, 21:17).

The team will move on to All-States next Saturday, Nov. 17, at Northfield Mountain.

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On the boys' side, junior Drew Fossa was the top finisher for Peabody with 7th place in 16:06. The rest of the scoring came from Ben Braz (21st, 16:37), Richie Fournier (64th, 17:21), Cody Picardy (74th, 17:32) and Alex Marcus (79th, 17:36) for an eighth place team finish.

Fossa and Braz will advance to All-States for individual competition.

Bishop Fenwick junior and Peabody native Arianna Maida will also head to Northfield Mountain Saturday, qualifying as an individual after placing 12th in 19:51 in the Division VI race. Senior Bryan Mendes will also advance (11th, 17:23).


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