BHS Cross Country Runners Qualify for State Meets

Bedford High School girls’ cross country team qualified the second consecutive year for the state MIAA meet. Courtesy Image

Members of the Bedford High School girls’ cross country team continued their historic season on Saturday by punching their tickets to next Saturday’s MIAA state championships with a sixth-place finish at last weekend’s divisional finals. This marks the second consecutive year the team has qualified for the state meet.

Senior Samantha Sheahan led the way for Bedford with a seventh-place finish out of 140 runners in Division 2B with a personal record time of 19 minutes, 19 seconds. Courtesy photo

Running the five-kilometer course at the Wrentham Development Center, senior Samantha Sheahan led the way for Bedford with a seventh-place finish out of 140 runners in Division 2B with a personal record time of 19 minutes, 19 seconds. Junior Anna Massaro also qualified for a medal by coming in 12^thin place 20:06.

Addison Poulter overcame a nasty side stitch to finish 23^rd in 20:40. Junior Vivian Liu ran a season-best 22:09 to take 60^th, just ahead of senior Co-Captain Elena Protasowicki’s 61^st, in 22:14). Junior Madeleine Ota finished 65^th in a personal best 22:26, while junior Grace Niu was 71^st in 22:45.

Also, two senior members of the boys’ cross country team qualified as individuals for the all-state meet, which will take place in Devens. Jonny Garraway placed fourth in a time of 16 minutes and Carter Rauch placed 26^th with a time of 16:56.

(Front L-R in blue) Seniors Carter Rauch and Johnny Garraway. Courtesy photo

“We had a plan coming here and the girls executed it really well,” girls’ Coach Joel Hebert said. “Sam ran the smartest race of her four-year career, and Anna looked in control the whole time. Addi showed her guts running through a side-stitch, and our four-seven runners all looked strong and to help us get back to All-States.” He said the goal next Saturday is to improve upon their 15^th place finish in 2022.

The boys’ cross-country team placed 14^th in the divisional meet. Garraway and Rauch were followed by Sahill Rotella at 85^th with a time of 18:23, Caden Shimko at 114^th in 19:04, William Protasowicki at 118^th with a time of 19:17, Anthony O’Brien at 119^th in 19:18, and Patrick Salazar-Weibel, 135^th in 19:56.

Boys’ Coach Rich Donnelly said, “It was really nice to see Jonny and Carter finish their high school cross country racing by qualifying to race at all-states for a third time.” He added, “It was great to get Sahill, Caden, William, and Patrick, as returning sophomores and freshmen, into this race so they have experience for next year.”