DEVENS — Abby Rodriquenz and Lauren Long finished first and second, respectively, to lead the Lunenburg girls to a second-place team finish at Saturday’s 10th annual Massachusetts State Middle School Cross Country Invitational at Willard Field.
The Blue Knights placed second in Division 2, led by an individual title by eighth-grader Rodriquenz, who finished the 1.886-mile course in 11:51. Long, a seventh-grader, completed the course second overall in 11:53.
Long and Rodriquenz are fresh off of Wednesday’s stellar varsity performances, where they led Lunenburg to second place at the Mid-Wach D championship meet, playing fifth and seventh, respectively, as individuals.
Weston took first in the Division 2 girls’ team competition with 96 points, followed by Lunenburg (11) and Whitinsville Christian (150).
Also running well for Lunenburg was Breanna Bajko, who placed 16th in 12:46, as well as Evelyn “Evee” Mabon and Morgan Jarrett.
The Lunenburg girls’ team is coached by head coach Will Guerra and assistants Jim Ryan and Katherine Antaya.
On the boys’ side, Lunenburg placed sixth as a team in Division 2, led by Nicholas Fortier (24th, 11:46), Vincent Dellasanta (35th, 11:59), Christopher Roy (42nd, 12:09), Thomas Orni (44th, 12:10) and Dillon Ryan (55th, 12:18).
Parker Charter won the boys’ Division 2 team title, while Carlisle’s Ethan Jina took first place individually.
Saturday’s meet was sponsored by USATF and the B.A.A. and is the largest middle school cross country event in the state, attended by more than 2,000 middle school students from 160 schools across Massachusetts.
