NORTHFIELD — Hampshire Regional sophomore Sylvie Mahon-Moore placed 10th overall in 21 minutes, 44.95 seconds to lead the Raiders to a fourth-place finish at the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Girls Cross Country Championship at Northfield Mountain on Saturday.
Lenox took first with 39 points. Mount Greylock (43) and Mohawk Trail (97) were second and third, respectively, and qualified for the state championship meet at Gardner Municipal Golf Course on Nov. 16.
Frontier Regional (195) placed sixth. Easthampton (10th, 295), Gateway Regional (13th, 343) and Hopkins Academy (14th, 407) also competed.
The Raiders’ Madeline Jenkins (24th, 23:12.25) and Delaney Marek (26th, 23:16.44) qualified as individuals for the state championship. Easthampton freshman Brooke Bongiovanni (13th, 22:03.79) also qualified. So did Frontier Regional eighth grader Leah Gump (25th, 23:15.48).
Pope Francis sophomore Meghan Sullivan, who lives in Easthampton, finished ninth in 21:34.23. Teammate Emily Boutin (19:02.20) won the 3.1-mile race.
The hills at Northfield Mountain give some runners trouble, Mahon-Moore feels like the terrain played to her strengths.
“There are a lot of hills, but I actually like hills better,” Mahon-Moore said. “At flat courses people sprint, and I can’t sprint. It’s a pretty course. It’s hilly and a little muddy, but it’s good.”
Mahon-Moore placed 15th at last year’s sectional championship. She’s proud to have cracked the top 10 on Saturday and is excited to put her best foot forward at states.
“I’m pretty excited. For states I’m going to be a little far behind because everyone is super fast,” Mahon-Moore said.” I like Western Mass. the most, but I’m glad I’m going to states.”
This year was Easthampton’s first season as a MIAA-sanctioned program and Saturday was the first time the Eagles competed at the Western Mass. championship.
Bongiovanni’s plan of overtaking people on the course’s big hill played to her advantage, but executing it was more difficult than she expected.
“(The hills) were a lot harder than I thought they were going to be,” Bongiovanni said. “After that it made it easier for me to get through.”