Shelgren, Connolly win D1 titles in Massachusetts

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

It's been a long time coming for St. John's Prep's Tristan Shelgren. But the cross country title he has been running after for so many years is finally his. 

Shelgren won the Massachusetts All-State Division 1 title Saturday at the Wrentham Developmental Center, covering the 5,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 15.8 seconds. The North Carolina-bound senior beat longtime rival Andrew Mah of Newton North (15:37.9) for the win.

"It’s always just been my goal no matter what I do, whether it’s playing games or competing, I always want to be the best,” said Shelgren in an earlier DyeStat interview.

The other St. John's -- St. John's of Shrewsbury -- put three runners in the top 20 and scored 81 points to win the Division 1 team title. Seniors Patrick Craemer and Joshua Rahn finished 4-5 for the Pioneers. 

Shelgren will now look to book his ticket to Foot Locker Nationals as he'll run Nov. 25 at the Northeast Regionals at Van Cortlandt Park in New York. 

Natick junior Grace Connolly easily won her second straight Division 1 title in 17:50.1. Junior Margaret Donahue of Wellesley was the runner-up in 18:07.5. The team title went to Concord Carlisle (116) as it held back a challenge from Wellesley (122). Like Shelgren, Connolly, No. 12 in the DyeStat rankings, will look to punch her ticket to Foot Locker Nationals. Last fall, Connolly finished fourth at Foot Locker regionals. 

In the boys Division 2 race, Sam Acquaviva of Newburyport finished first in 15:58.8, while Parker Charter Essential scored 90 points, edging out Pentucket Regional (95) for the team title. 

The girls Division 2 title was claimed by junior Sarah Roffman of Littleton in 18:12.4. Mount Greylock won the team championship with 87 points.

RESULTS 

Team Champions

Boys Division 1 - St. John's Shrewsbury 81 points

Girls Division 1 - Concord Carlisle 116 points

Boys Division 2 - Parker Charter Essential 90 points

Girls Division 2 - Mount Greylock 87 points