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October 27, 2009 · 6:00 pm

Newburyport Boys’ Cross Country Team Undefeated In Regular Season

October 27th (Tuesday) – At Woodsom Farm in Amesbury, I saw the Newburyport boys’ cross country team complete an undefeated (12-0) season in the Cape Ann League.

Host Amesbury provided little opposition, in fact the way the Clipper runners were grouped together; it looked like a training exercise especially at the front.

Senior Matt Getz leads eight Newburyport runners across the finish line

The local paper, which I suspect viewed the race from Liberty Street, had all the runners finishing in first in some sort of blanket finish. My photo, taken at the finish line, would suggest otherwise. The winner was clearly Senior Matt Getz.

The local paper also listed the eight tied for first as; Matt Getz, Brian Morse, Sean Hickman, Ryan Clark, Greg Englehart, Chris Suprin, Chris Jayne, and Keith Conway. Again referencing my photo from the finish line, I see Matt Getz (who clearly was the winner) and EIGHT runners behind him. Someone was left off the local paper’s list. I wonder whom? I’ll post it here if someone sends the info to my email address – 85peterjulie17 at gmail dot com.

Matt Tolley raced off to the early lead.

Coach Don Hennigar told me at NHS on Thursday that he thought that this was the first undefeated boys team he’s had since 2003.

Newburyport cross country girls finish 10-27-09

left to right - Maddie Cutrone, Merri Adsit, Kiley Knowlton, and Renee Angelo finish first together at Amesbury

The Clipper girls were just as dominating versus Amesbury. Four Clipper runners took the lead together early and ran that way (training workout style) the entire way. I wouldn’t attempt to pick a winner even using my photo of the finish.

The big event for these teams is Saturday (October 31st) afternoon at Bradley Palmer Park. This would be the Cape Ann League championships. The varsity teams run at 2PM (girls) and 2:30PM (boys).

I expect that the boys will be severely tested by both Masco (11-1) and Hamilton-Wenham (10-2).

The young Clipper girls completed the regular season at 5-7 and may surprise some folks at Bradley Palmer.

Look for pictures and a recap to show up on this blog on Saturday (October 31st) in the evening.

Top Honors Go To Newburyport Indoor Track Team

Newburyport indoor track coach Tim Foley with Caroline Barnaby and Kyle LeBlanc.

The Newburyport indoor track team swept all of the “of-the-year” awards in the Cape Ann League Small division this season.

Newburyport coach Tim Foley was selected top coach in both girls and boys divisions while team members Caroline Barnaby and Kyle LeBlanc were the female and male athletes of the year.

Tim Foley started the indoor program at Newburyport with Don Hennigar in 1995. “The AD at the time (Dave Canaan) informed us that there might be funding for an indoor program,” he told me. “It was something that Don (cross country coach) and I (outdoor track coach) had wanted to put in place for some time.”

Starting the program was one thing, actually operating it was quite another. “It is pretty much the same throughout the Cape Ann League with everyone having facility stories to tell,” he joked. “In the past years, we’ve used the Salvation Army, the Army Corps of Engineers building, Hope Church, and last year a warehouse. This was the first year we used the high school. It’s small but at least it’s in the actual school building.”

Despite what has to be considered inconveniences, the program has thrived, especially this season. The two teams only lost once within the CAL Small division. “Our captains did a great job of recruiting and we had over forty kids involved,” he added. “We find ways to make our time together fun and I think we have succeeded.”

It certainly helped the Clipper indoor track team to have talented performers like Caroline and Kyle on the squad.

Caroline has been with the track program for four years and although she specializes in the high jump (tied for the NHS record at 5’2”) her value to the team is a result of her, “versatility,” according to Coach Foley.

“When I was a freshman Coach Foley set up the high jump bar and asked some of us to try it just to see what we could do,” Caroline recalled. “I kind of flew over 4’10” without any training and he decided that I should specialize in that event.” Later she would add the 55-meter dash, hurdles, and relays to her event list.

Coach Foley knew about junior Kyle LeBlanc after watching him run track at the Nock Middle School. “The first time I saw him run I knew he was a keeper. He was that much better than anyone else.”

“Kyle has been undefeated in the 55-meter dash the last two seasons in the CAL and is the NHS record holder in the event,” said Coach Foley. “He has been our best long jumper and also runs on a variety of relay teams.”

“The CAL track coaches nominate people for the end-of-the-year awards and provide statistics,” he said. “Sometimes the final decision is hard to figure. Not this time. Kyle won the award easily.”

Kyle took up indoor track at the high school on the encouragement of some of his older friends. “I had always played basketball in the winter,” he said. “I came out for track and had a good season and really enjoyed it.”

Kyle told me that initially he thought that track might conflict with his first love – baseball. “It has been just the opposite,” he explained. “One of my biggest assets in baseball is my speed. The training I’ve gotten in track has improved my running form and increased my overall speed.”

Coach Foley described Kyle as a “top-shelf kid.” “He’s got a lot of things going for him. He scored 12-14 touchdowns for the football team. He’s the number one track athlete we have and he’s even better in baseball. He’s also a top student.”

( Prepared for The Town Common for publication March 4th. )