It was a good Thursday to be Meghan Davis.
It was a bad Thursday to be a course record.
The Mohawk Trail Regional High School senior standout broke a 15-year-0ld record on the 2.55-mile course in Buckland. After nearly getting there a week ago, Davis shattered the mark Thursday by some 15.7 seconds, lifting the Warriors to a 21-34 victory over Monson High School in an independent girls cross country meet.
Davis’ time of 15 minutes, 42.2 seconds was well under the old course record of 15:57.9, set by Rita Marcotte of Mohawk back in 2003. In last week’s race, Davis set a personal record of 16:03.9. Mohawk coach Joe Chadwick said Marcotte was the first girl to break 16 minutes on the course, and he wasn’t sure anyone else would be able to join the exclusive club until Davis put forth a dominant run on Thursday.
“She came so close last week and she knew she was running out of time to do it,” explained Chadwick of Davis in her final cross country season. “You see Meghan and you see the look on her face… you know if she doesn’t (break the record), she’s going to come damn close.”
Davis bested the rest of the field by exactly 3 minutes, with runner-up Erica Szewczyk crossing for the Warriors in 18:42. Erika Looman was 3rd in 19:41, while Caitlin Upton (7th, 20:56) and Savannah Simmons (8th, 21:22) also earned top 10 finishes to help the hosts to the big home win.
“Girls have been running this course since 1973 so it’s not a new course. In fact, it’s probably the oldest course in western Mass. that’s still being run,” said Chadwick of the feat. “For her to do something like she did today was incredible. And all by herself up front, for her to stay focused like she did is amazing.”
Haley Fennyery was Monson’s top finisher, finishing fourth overall in 20:21.
Mohawk 24, Mahar 33
Monson 22, Mohawk 35
Monson 19, Mahar 41 — In the boys race, freshman Dennis Simmons became the 48th runner in 51 years to break 15 minutes on Mohawk’s course, posting a personal-best time of 14:59 to capture the individual victory in a tri-meet with Mahar and Monson.
Thor Mead was the top runner for Mahar, taking 5th place in 216:26, while teammate Connor Vaillancourt was right behind in 6th (16:27).
Mohawk put two other runners in the top 10, with Guy Rice-Lesure taking 7th overall (16:29) and Sean O’Dea nabbing 10th position (17:06).