WESTFIELD — Sophia Jacobs-Townsley made history Saturday.
The Amherst Regional senior won a fourth straight Western Massachusetts Division I Girls Cross Country championship, something no other runner has done in western Mass.
Jacobs-Townsley finished the 5-kilometer race in 17 minutes, 56 seconds, which set a course record at Stanley Park. The previous record of 18:02 was set by Jacobs-Townsley two weeks ago at the PVIAC championship.
“It was just like my fourth time around and I kind of knew where everyone would be,” Jacobs-Townsley said. “I just kind of ran my own race and I think this was the first year where I was like this is going to be a race where I focus on how I’m doing, I don’t worry about anyone else behind me.”
Spring Greeney won the Division 1 race three times (2002-2004) for Amherst. Mount Greylock’s Allison White (1992-94), Holyoke Catholic’s Jenn Campbell (98-00) and Holyoke Catholic’s Kristen Veit (06-08) each won the Division 2 race three times.
Zig Winiarski of Chicopee Comp won the Division 1 race three times (81-83), the only boy to claim that honor.
Jacobs-Townsley also finished almost a full minute ahead of Northampton’s Mary Yount, who finished second in 18:55.
The race was originally scheduled to be held at Northfield Mountain, but was relocated to Stanley Park.
“I like the Northfield course,” Jacobs-Townsley said. “But it does make me pretty nervous. You can’t worry about time at all so it’s all about place. … With this meet I was like I’m going to focus on my race.”
Jacobs-Townsley led a strong performance by Amherst, which won the team championship with 24 points. It was the Hurricanes’ second straight title and 24th overall.
Northampton had 64 points for second place, with Agawam in third with 81 points.
Amherst had five runners finish among the top eight. Its sixth and seventh runners didn’t count toward the team total, but still finished within the top 20.
Isabella Shepard was fourth (19:22) and was followed immediately by teammates Erin Clotfelter (fifth, 19:39) and Julia Hopley (sixth, 19:46). Zada Forde was eighth (20:17).
Jacobs-Townsley’s sister Vivian was 14th (20:37) and Maddie Shea 19th (21:03).
Northampton had two runners finish in the top 10. In addition to Yount, Rosie Ingmann finished seventh in 19:58.
Saraphina Forman was 15th (20:40) and Naomi Andrew 16th (20:41) for the Blue Devils. Maggie Reade (27th, 21:37) rounded out the team scoring.
The top three teams as well as the next 10 individuals advance to the state meet, which will be held Nov. 18 at Stanley Park.
“One of my biggest goals is to get second,” Sophia Jacobs-Townsley said. “If I’m having a really good day maybe get first. We’ll see, I just kind of want to come and race and see how I do.”
Jocelyne Rondeau, of South Hadley, finished ninth overall in 20:17 and qualified. The Tigers did not have enough runners to qualify for a team score.
Belchertown was led by Rebecca Patel, who had a time of 25:06 and finished 90th overall. Belchertown finished 16th.