Girls Cross Country Recap

RHODEandTRACK

Girls Cross Country Team

After graduating one of the state’s best runners last season, the Toll Gate girls cross country team could have easily treated this season as a transition year. Yet, the Titans reloaded in stride, with two rising stars in sophomores Mea Ayotte and Anna O’Donnell. Alison Pankowicz is now excelling as a freshman at the University of Rhode Island and recently won the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week. While Pankowicz saw tremendous individual success, the team was not competitive during her high school career, yet this year’s squad set a new standard. Ayotte and O’Donnell were joined by the freshman duo of Lexie Watson and Ariana Aunchman, as well as Myana O’Brien and Eleanor Carciagni. The Titans, led by Ayotte and O’Donnell, qualified for the state meet as a team through their 7-3 dual meet record in the competitive Suburban Division. The Titans swept Juanita Sanchez, Cranston East, Johnston, Hope, and Mt. Pleasant, and pulled off close victories against Coventry and Classical, where the difference was only one point. 

In cross country, the top three teams in each division qualify for states, with at-large teams qualifying at the Class Championships. An early qualification meant that the Titans could run more relaxed at the October 26 meet at Ponaganset High School, with all the focus on the state meet. The girls had November 2 circled on their calendars since June, when summer practices began and they certainly lived up to their high expectations for the first Saturday in November. Mea Ayotte finished in 19th place with a personal record of 19:30.69 for the challenging 5k course at Ponaganset High School. Her placement earned her All-State honors and marked the third year in a row that the Titans have had a girl in the top 21 at the state meet. Anna O’Donnell also secured a personal record, finishing in 31st place with an impressive time of 20:11.89. Arianna Aunchman finished 104th with a time of 23:11.00. Alexandra Watson, Shinyu Vega, and Myana O’Brien finished 133rd, 134th, and 153rd respectively. The Titans finished 13th out of 21 teams and with their top two girls only sophomores and graduating no seniors, the future looks bright for the program.