Lenox’s Carpenter wins state XC as Millionaires finish strong

NORTHFIELD – A local cross-country star runner like Scott Carpenter doesn’t come along the path very often.

Carpenter, who won the Brown Invitational and the Western Massachusetts titles, added a state crown to his impressive senior year resume, with a eight-second win in the state finals meet in Northfield last Saturday.

Carpenter, who won the Division 2 title amidst a field of the state’s best 178 runners, finished with a time of 15:55.75.

“I had the lead after the first hill and I never looked back,” Carpenter said moments after finishing.

“I had a plan going in and I stuck with it. I didn’t care where everyone else was going up the first hill – I knew I was going to put in a certain amount of effort.”

Carpenter’s plan to run his race paid off right from the start, as he began to take the lead at the base of the first hill before having command immediately following.

“On the starting line it’s a little intimidating but when you get to the top [of the hill], it’s a relief,” Carpenter added. “You never know how it’s going to go and it could make or break your race.”

After winning the Western Massachusetts title the previous Saturday in Northfield, it appeared that Carpenter, who later admitted to it, was conserving energy heading into the state race as he added a few extra wrinkles.

“I threw in a couple of surges I didn’t last weekend,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter’s coach, Jeanne Teasdale, was emotional after her star’s title run. She has worked with Carpenter and has facilitated his progress since he joined the cross-country team as a seventh-grader.

“I felt like I was running that race with him,” Teasdale said afterwards.

“Year after year we have seen him grow – working on his form, and today he had a beautiful stride.”

Carpenter will continue onto the Foot Locker Regionals in New York City this weekend, with a chance to compete in nationals if he can earn a top-10 finish.

Fellow Lenox runner Tucker McNinch, who finished second in Western Massachusetts, fought through a foot injury Saturday, hindering his performance.

Only a sophomore, he finished 49th overall at 17:33.02, yet has shown the potential this year to be an elite runner such as Carpenter.

“[McNinch] could be the top runner in the county,” Teasdale said, “and [Carpenter] has brought that out in him.”

Other boys’ results include Sam Derbey, who finished 127th at 18:38.28, and Eric Lomaglio, at 160th with 19:36.38, while Chris Najimy finished at 172nd with a time of 20:35.61 on the 3.1-mile course.

The boys’ team finished 13th overall, as the girls finished their successful team campaign with a 15th place overall.

While the girls were missing Hannah McCluskey due to an illness, Teasdale was pleased how once again the Millionaires finished together in a pack – as they have all season.

“They finished so tight – that has helped us all season long,” she said.

Freshman Elizabeth Jarck finished 76th with a time of 21:15.21, followed by Ella King at 106th with 21:54.75.

Kate McNinch finished at 108th with 21:58.98, while Emily Tibbets finished 123rd at 22:09.41.

Grace Ellrodt finished right behind her at 124th with 22:11.73, and Hollie Downer finished 151st at 23:16.09.

For Carpenter, his Lenox career ends on the highest pinnacle after the former motocross star turned his focus to running.

“[Carpenter] has been working on his technique and giving his best performance by using the least amount of energy,” Teasdale said. “He has met every one of his goals with his training from week to week – what a way to go out.”

Posted by Tim Davis on November 20, 2012. Filed under High School Sports,Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry