The Pioneer girls’ cross country team ran off with first place at the first SEC Jamboree on Wednesday at Ella Sharp Park in Jackson. In a very competitive race, the Pioneers crossed first with 48 points, only six ahead of Saline. Skyline ran third with 68 points while Dexter finished fourth with 96 points. Huron finished sixth in the 11-team race with 155 points.
Junior Natalie Mello finished first overall with a time of 19 minutes, 24.5 seconds to help lead the Pioneers into the winner’s circle.
The Pioneers had two other runners finish in the top 10 with freshman Quincy Behm sixth (19:51.4) and junior Lydia Bowman 10th (19:59.0). Junior Katie Hume was 13th (20:06.2) and junior Sylvia Sanok Dufallo was 18th (20:37.1). Also running strong for the Pioneers were Allison Nutt (38th, 21:29.7), Hana Boggess (50th, 22:15.8) and Monica Ristich (63rd, 23:06.7).
The Eagles also landed three in top 10: senior Natalie Kessler was third (19:35.2), senior Caroline Vance was fourth (19:36.0) and junior Allison Mayer was eighth (19:58.4). Skyline senior Leah White was 19th (20:37.70, senior Lydia Cocciolone was 35th (21:23.4) and senior Annalisa DeGuzman was 44th (21:48.6). Also running strong for the Eagles were Celia Begosso(58th, 22:53.1), Serena O’Brien (68th, 23:25.2), Aileen Bachrans (84th, 24:44.6) and Elizabeth Beck (86th, 24:54.8).
Dexter’s super sophomore Alena Blumberg was fifth overall with a time of 19:46.1. Junior Kate Varitek was 14th in 20:10.7, sophomore Annabel O’Haver was 20th (20:49.6), sophomore Addison Bruckman was 22nd (20:56.3) and sophomore Olivia Shaieb was 36th (21:26.7). Also running strong for the Dreadnaughts were Antonia Bruckman (41st, 21:45.7), Hannah Bougher (49th, 22:08.4), Hannah Sisson (57th, 22:49.0), Addison Streetman (66th, 23:18.7) and Rhya Wright (72nd, 23:45.3).
Huron had three young runners finish in the top 30: junior Sonya Shelgikar was 21st in 20:51.4; sophomore Lucinda Paliani was 26th in 21:02.3; and freshman Leena Shelgikar was 29th (21:15.2). Also running strong for the River Rats were Royce Smith (30th, 21:19.0), Emily Ma (51st, 22:23.6), Sarah Conley (54th, 22:39.6), Aiko Motohara (59th, 22:56.7), Mia Solomon (60th, 22:57.8) and Kendra Bogan (81st, 24:28.5).
