HOPKINTON, N.H. - Lebanon’s young girls cross country team took on the best runners in the state on Saturday and held its own. The Raiders placed third at the Meet of Champions at Hopkinton State Fairgrounds with 107 points, behind only Exeter (56) and Hanover (81).
Freshman Jill Campbell led the way again. A week after winning the division individual title in Manchester, Campbell finished fourth on Saturday, covering the 5-kilometer course in 17:54.2. Hopkinton’s Madeleine Lane won the race in a course record 16:48.2.
Freshman Brooke Nelson gave Lebanon a second runner in the top 10, placing ninth in 18:47.5.
Freshman Carolyn Campbell was 29th in 19:47.4, freshman Victoria Pomeroy was 33rd in 20:01.1 and senior Ollie Hanna was 50th in 20:33.4 to complete the scoring five. Four of the five scorers are freshmen. Maeve Finnegan (86th) and Raeka Mikecz (101st) also ran.
Saturday’s finish was a step up from the division championships a week earlier, when the Raiders placed third in their division behind Hanover and Oyster River. This time Lebanon beat Oyster River (129) for third.
It has been quite a debut season for Campbell. She won the small-school race at the Manchester Invitational in September, won the Woods Trail Run at Thetford Academy in early October, took first at the league championship meet in Norwich, Vt., and then won the division title on Oct. 31 in 18:28.9.
The top six teams advance to the regional meet, so the Raiders’ season keeps going.
Lebanon’s girls are next at the New England Championships on Saturday, November 14, at Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast, Maine.
That wraps up the day for Lebanon High School sports. We’ll see you next time!