In a thrilling evening of high school cross country, Walpole High School’s (WHS) cross country teams hosted a memorable meet on Wednesday, Oct. 15, celebrating senior night with cake, cheers and performances from both boys and girls runners.
The varsity boys 2.57 mile race featured a tight battle among the top runners, with Luke Zahurak leading the pack to secure first place with a school record time of 13:00. Asher Kingman finished in fourth place with a time of 13:57 , and his teammate Joseph Curran followed closely behind coming in fifth with a 13:59 finish. Ethan Barossi and Ethan Hunt rounded out the top five for Walpole with the times of 14:04 and 14:09. The team scoring for the boys race highlighted a competitive showdown between Walpole and Weymouth with the strong performances of Zahurak, Kingman, and Curran, which led to the victory of Walpole with a score of 23-38.
The varsity girls, with the same distance,were equally eventful, led by Bridget Tierney who crossed the finish line with a time of 16:33. Second place for Walpole and fifth overall was earned by Lily McManus with a time of 16:51, while Jackie Anketell came in third for Walpole at 17:12. Completing the top five, showcasing Walpole’s competitiveness was Ila Zollo and lila Zahurak. Team scoring in the girls race was earned by Tireney and McManus. Despite effort the girls team did accept a loss to Weymouth with a score of 25-31.
Beyond times and scores, the meet carried a special significance as the Walpole teams honored their senior athletes. The post race celebrations featured cake and recognition marking a memorable senior night for runners and their families. Coaches praised the dedication, perseverance and sportsmanship shown by the seniors.
The Walpole Cross country team sent their seniors off and set the tone for the remainder of the season. The athletes demonstrated not only speed and endurance but also the kind of sportsmanship that makes high school cross country a true community experience.