Going into the season, the 8-3 Walpole Girls Cross Country team had one big goal for their season — to win the Herget Championship for the third year in a row, the longest Herget Championship streak in Walpole Cross Country history.

However, on September 27, the team was dealt a crushing blow when a broken foot befell junior Kyra Arsenault, the number four runner for the team.

This loss widened the gap between the third and fourth runners, but this step backwards came with a few steps forward later on.

For the Rebels, beating Natick, 19-44, and placing all seven of their top runners before Natick’s second runner provided the morale they needed. Big races from juniors Tess Lancaster and Molly Rockwood, sophomore Mikaela McSharry, and freshman Danielle Borelli catapulted the team back to the top and into a showdown with Wellesley for the Herget title.

Despite losing to Wellesley by a mere three points, 26-29, Walpole still clinched a share of the Herget title with a win over Framingham, bringing the program their third title in three years.

“This is definitely the most athletic team that I’ve ever coached,” said Head Coach Jamie Farrell. “I am super proud of how the team did this year.”

At the Divisional meet on November 8, senior Captain Allie Morris placed fourth overall for Division III, finishing the 5k course in  18:39, and junior Alyssa Murphy took 17th with a 19:30. Despite personal bests from Lancaster (20:41), McSharry (20:45), and Borelli (20:47), the Rebels only sent Morris and Murphy to All-States, as they finished seventh overall after sophomore Stephanie Forester could not finish due to illness.

“Taking into consideration all of the injuries the team had, I am very happy with how the team performed this season, especially the freshmen,” said Morris.