Hackett, Ilarda Lead Mayor's Cup Fields

10/27/2019
 
October 27,  Boston MA
Increasing rains and increasing mud over two hours of competition produced no complaints from competitors  at the 29th annual Boston Mayor's Cup races at Franklin Park as those conditions were just fine for cross country. Sponsored by the Boston Athletic Association over 600 harriers contested seven races for youth and open competitors.
 
The championship women's race produced the closest competition of the day as the top 4 finishers crossed the line within 5 seconds.  Leading the charge was 2018 USATF-NE XC champion Brianna Ilarda, competing for Ocean State AC/New Balance.  Ilarda clocked 17:13 for a one second margin over Margot Appleton of Emerging Elite, with Sarah Brown (17:16) and Sydney Masciarelli (17:18) close behind.   Appleton, a senior at Portsmouth Abbey, and Masciarelli out of Marinapolis Academy, recorded the third and foruth fastest times evern run by high schoolers on the standard 5k course. 
 
In the men's 8K, Everett Hackett (Hartbeat TC) moved up from 5th place a year ago to lead the field at 24:15, giving him a compartively comfortable cushion of 8 seconds over NE Distance teammates Jesse Young and Henry Sterling (both 24:23). 
 
Led by Hackett, Connecticut's Hartbeat TC won the men's club title 44-63 over Tracksmith Hare, while Tracksmith women took home the Mayor's Cup ahead of Central Park TC/New Balance by a single point, 42-43
 
A new 4 race format for youth produced spirited individual and team competition, and the 490+ entrants was the largest number in race history. 
Fastest times of the day were turned in by Nathan Lopez (NE Elite, 13-14) in a youth course record 5:19, and Ellie Shea (Waltham TC, 13-14) in 6:07.  Other youth division winners were Addison Bligen (MetroCobras, 6-7), James Duran (Marshfield RR, 6-7), Ela Budzinski (NEE, 8-10), William Trautz (Unattached, 8-10), Nanditha Hegde (NEE, 11-12), Jared Rife (WTC, 11-12)l.
 
New England Elite (Girls 8-10, 11-12, 13-14,Boys 8-10, 11-12) and Waltham Track Club (Boys 13-14) shared all the team wins. 
 
Full results