The First Test

Today is the first big test for the Newton North Girls, as they take on Natick at Cold Springs Park. The meet matches the #1 returner in the Bay State League (Jess Barton) versus the #2 returner (Natick's Rebecca White), and both are very fit. Barton has been biding her time in the first two meets, running well within herself. White has been more agressive with her early races, setting a course record at Brookline, and winning handily on her home course last Friday. The Cold Spring's course record (18:23 - Alexandra Krieg, Wellesley) could be in jeopardy today.

Behind White, Natick has Anya Price, who trailed her teammate by 15 seconds at Brookline, and is a defending Bay State all-star. Newton counters with Haleigh Smith, who finished one second ahead of Price at the league meet last year, and its phalanx of talented sophomores, including Carolyn Ranti, who beat also Price in the league meet.

Behind White and Price, Natick loses ground to the North, as the Tigers have more depth in places 3-6 then Natick, at least on paper. The meet definitely provides the first real indication of whether the Tigers deserve their early season ranking as the 7th best team in Mass. The girls race goes off around 4:15 at Cold Spring Park.

But before that happens, the boys will contest what promises to be a close meet. The Tigers will not have Seb Putzys, who is suffering from mono. The Tigers will instead have to rely on Charlie Krasnow and Ben Chebot to lead the way, with Peter Sun, Alex Ribner, and Dan Hamilton also in the mix. Natick has no superstars, but if their early results are any indication, they have a decent pack. It's likely the meet will come down to the 4h and 5th man on each team, where it appears North has the edge.

The boys race is expected to start at approximately 3:45.