Competitive races at New England Cross Country Championship

The USATF-NE Open and Masters Championships brought the 2022 cross country season to a close at Franklin Park with three spirited races. On a day with temperatures more like September than November, 323 runners crossed the finish line. 

The Masters Mens 8km opened the day.  Prescott Leach (Cambridge Sports Union) put in a strong final kilometer over Bear Cage Hill to break the tape in the Men's Masters 8km over Eric Blake. Blake was the first of four B.A.A. runners in top 8 to give the team a solid victory in the 40+ team scoring. Central Mass Striders was the dominant 50+ team and Greater Lowell opped in the 60+ results. 

The women's open/masters 6km race, the largest of the day, followed. Abbey Wheeler moved up from last year's silver medal position to take gold in 20:33, leading a 1-2-3 B.A.A. finish; the Unicorns' 17 points outdistanced runner-up Battle Road.  Top master Kasie Enman (Green Mountain
AA) placed sixth overall, and Liberty AC swept the three masters women's divisions team scoring led by W60 winner Mary Cass.

The Open Men's 10km belonged to Ben Drezek (Tracksmith Boston Hares) who led from the mile mark onward and finished in 31:21, a 23 second gap on runner-up Paul Hogan (B.A.A.). Drezek now has 4 wins in 4 XC Grand Prix
Series races.  He also led Tracksmith to the team title, the Hares scoring 26 to the B.A.A.'s 42 points among twelve teams.

Smooth race operations at this season's races were thanks to a regular crew of officials who know the sport and know the course. They were ably supported by the Brooklihe HS cross country team.

Individual and Team Results 
Updated Cross Country Grand Prix standings