GXC Kicks Off the Season at Manchester Invitational
Phillips Academy Cross Country kicked off its season at the Manchester Invitational in New Hampshire on Saturday 9/24. About one-third of the team traveled to the large invitational at the historic Derryfield Park, where on the Girls' side Andover raced in the Girls Small School Varsity race (placing 8th out of 25) as well as the Girls JVB race (no placement due to small size of JV squad).
Full results from the meet directors can be found here. We had several fantastic highlights:
- Emma Hagstrom '25 earned a new personal record, a full 20 seconds faster than her Fall 2021 personal best time
- Tasha Bohorad '26 and Zoe von Eckartsberg '26 both ran their first-ever XC 5ks, placing third and fourth respectively for the team!
- Chloe Kindangen '23 and Yasmine Tazi '24 both earned major personal records, taking 0:45 and 1:29 off their 2021 personal bests respectively!
- And more! Everyone who raced displayed a toughness and tenacity that will no doubt continue to pay off in the weeks ahead.
Beyond race results, PAXC showed camaraderie and positivity in the face of a tough course and talented competition. Andover athletes kept their cool and seized the opportunity to race with joy and gusto. It's clear that the team is excited to work hard to continue to improve this season. This meet was just the start, and an auspicious one at that.
The racing roster will expand in the coming weeks, when all of PAXC will get the chance to rep Big Blue. PAXC will compete next at the NMH Invitational on Saturday 10/1 in Gill, MA.