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Hockomock Cross Country Preview 2007  

TEAMS  

Nobody likes to feel helpless. But Julie Collins juggernaut at Mansfield certainly puts a damper on anyone else's hopes for a league championship. There seemed to be some light at the end of the tunnel this year – but it was just the newest Mansfield freight train bearing down on us.   Are they unbeatable – no. Is it likely they'll get beaten – NO! Ryan Collins, John Lutkevich and Brendan Barca are gone. Who could survive that kind of attrition? Apparently Mansfield - as they rolled through the regular season undefeated. Meagher, Bolea, Erwin, McGowan and Collins (not Ryan) rolled over NA and OA, and somehow dodged the bullet with a one-point victory over Franklin.  

Franklin is coming on strong, but in this meet a weakness at 5th is more critical that strength at #1. Even if Dacey and May do damage up front, its likely that Mansfield's 5th runner will be more than 30 seconds ahead of Franklin's 5th . In that position of the league meet, that's a difference of 30 to 40 points.

Let me take that back about weakness. Since Franklin's 5th is better than most in the league it is really a matter of Mansfield's depth. Oliver Ames looks good for a third place finish although I'm sure they'll do everything they can to get 2nd . Here I think Franklin's 1-2 punch will make the difference.

North Attleboro has the same woes as most teams. They have a strong 4 before things tail off.  But here's the unknown. Predicting the league meet is always difficult for the following reason. Consistency make things “likely” to happen, but the intensity of a championship race makes the unexpected the norm, rather than the exception. If any single runner from the four that have legitimate claims on NA's 5th spot has a breakthrough – I think you get the picture.  

INDIVIDUALS  

Here is where things get very interesting. You'd be a fool to bet against Mike Moverman. He's the highest ranked returner and his '06 State Finals performance solidified him as a “BIG MEET” runner. Still, he has to contend with John Dacey who is on a tear. Dacey was the head-to-head winner in the tri-meet and you never count out the “up and comer”. This might be a battle worthy of ESPN! Will it be strategic, feeling each other out the first mile? Or will it be a pedal to the medal performance? Either way, if they concentrate too much on each other Andrew Erwin could be the spoiler.

Despite an off day for Frank May at the Bay States, he will hang on the leaders as long as possible. Who will also join that pack? I like the chances of:  

Mansfield – Kevin Meagher and Mike Bolea

North Attleboro : Greg Payne and Nick Wade

Sharon : Ben Mattocks and Casey Howards (I don't know how they do it but Sharon's runners always have a card up their sleeve at this meet)  

Wildcards for top 12  

Pat Slight – FR – Steadily improving

Patrick McGowan – MN – Where'd he come from?

Chris Letourneau – FR – Could he be the one who reshuffles the deck?

Shayne Collins – Beware the freshman coming off a big race!  

Unsung Heroes  

Jake Marcus – OA – Another runner who could alter the tide.

Geary – FX – Could leave some hot shots feeling blue!  

Hock Results ‘06  

  1 Collins, Ryan            Mansfield HS             4:50.2    13:32.43   (Graduated)              

2 Lutkevich, John          Mansfield HS             5:10.1    14:28.25   (Graduated)              

3 Moverman, Mike           Oliver Ames HS           5:11.5    14:32.15          

4 Erwin, Andrew            Mansfield HS             5:12.5    14:34.81          

5 May, Frank               Franklin HS              5:14.7    14:41.03          

6 Matz, Paul               King Phillip HS          5:15.6    14:43.48 (Graduated)               

7 Ricci, Derek             Foxboro HS               5:16.0    14:44.60 (Graduated)              

8 Mattocks, Ben            Sharon HS                5:16.3    14:45.52          

9 Howards, Casey           Sharon HS                5:17.9    14:50.13         

10 Strange, Austin          Oliver Ames HS           5:18.3    14:51.23 (Graduated)             

11 Stein, Etal              Sharon HS                5:19.7    14:55.03 (Graduated)             

12 Bolea, Mike              Mansfield HS             5:21.2    14:59.29     

13 Barca, Brendan           Mansfield HS             5:21.5    15:00.11 (Graduated)             

14 Payne, Greg              North Attleboro HS       5:22.1    15:01.66        

15 Meagher, Kevin           Mansfield HS             5:22.7    15:03.48        

16 Aliberti, Alex           North Attleboro HS       5:24.2    15:07.62 (Graduated)             

17 David, Harrison          King Phillip HS          5:25.2    15:10.50        

18 D'Arcangelo, Ryan        King Phillip HS          5:25.5    15:11.28 (Graduated)            

19 Dacey, John              Franklin HS              5:25.6    15:11.60     

20 Curari, Joe              Oliver Ames HS           5:26.5    15:14.05 (Graduated)          

21 Willox, Brad             North Attleboro HS       5:28.3    15:19.09        

22 Davin, Sam               Franklin HS              5:31.7    15:28.56 (Graduated)             

23 Card, Bill               North Attleboro HS       5:32.7    15:31.55 (Graduated)             

24 Cohen, Brian             Oliver Ames HS           5:33.4    15:33.48   (Graduated?)          

25 Paparazzo, Anthony       Oliver Ames HS           5:34.2

Bay State Results ‘07 (just last week)