WESTFIELD — No one was going to catch Amherst Regional High School’s Sophia Jacobs-Townsley, who is in a class by herself.
What few could have predicted was that three underclassmen from Mohawk Trail Regional High School would claim the next three spots at Saturday’s Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference girls’ cross country meet.
“This was definitely more competition than we’re used to,’’ the Warriors’ Meghan Davis said. “The three of us worked together all through the race and it paid off.”
But there they were, eighth-grader Jackie Wells, sophomore Davis and Jacki’s junior sister Lilly Wells finishing second, third and fourth. Never mind that the race is usually dominated by Division I runners like Jacobs-Townsley — the talented trio from the Buckland school brought game to Stanley Park.
“I’m enormously proud of my teammates,’’ said Davis, who is a first-year cross country athlete. “We worked so hard all season.”
Jackie Wells secured second place after covering the 3.1-mile course in 19 minutes, 14 seconds. Davis took third after coming in 10 seconds behind Wells and Lilly Wells was a mere four seconds behind her.
The Warriors are well aware that Berkshire County usually sends top runners to the Western Mass. Division II Meet, where Mount Greylock Regional High School will likely be the team favorite. But the Warriors certainly sent a message that they, too, are ready to compete.
Still, veteran coach Joe Chadwick did offer some words of caution.
“What happens today doesn’t always happen at Western Mass.,” Chadwick said. “They ran so well today and they’ve been running like this all year long. The best part about those three is there is no ego — they work together so well as a group.”
Mohawk ended up fourth in the team total with 136, behind Division I powers Northampton High School, Amherst and Division II contender Hampshire Regional High School.
But when the sectional meet takes place on Sunday, the Warriors know the playing field will be leveled.
“I knew how good our top three would be,”’ Chadwick said. “Only 15 girls have run 17 minutes on our home course in 39 years, and all three accomplished that this season.”
Greenfield High School also had a top 10 team finish. The Green Wave placed ninth with 280 points.
Jamie Day had a top 20 individual finish for the Green Wave. She was 18th in 20:43.
“My speed and stamina have improved a lot,” Day said.
Teammate Amy O’Sullivan overcame an injury and was 36th in 21:36. She rolled an ankle during the race, but toughed it out with an assist from Haley Sullivan of Pope Francis High School.
“She picked me up and had me finish the race with her,” O’Sullivan said. “She said not to quit.”
O’Sullivan was thrilled to see Day do well.
“She’s such a fantastic runner and she is so determined,” O’Sullivan said. “She’s the best pacer I know.”
Frontier Regional School was 18th with 488 points. The Red Hawks saw sophomore Fiona Ferry finish 70th in 22:44.
Frontier placed sixth as a team, the highest finisher among Division II teams. The Red Hawks (231 points) trailed only Holyoke (58), Amherst (72), Northampton (85), West Springfield (102) and Chicopee Comp (195).
Frontier got a top 20 finish from sophomore Carsten Carey. He placed 19th in 17:06.
“I went out very fast, but I couldn’t keep up that pace,” Carey said. “We have a young team and we hope to do well at Western Mass.”
Another sophomore, Alex Sharp, was 22nd in 17:10.
“I thought those were pretty good times,” Red Hawks coach Bob Smith said.
The Hawks also got a big lift from freshman Jake Meier, who was 61st in 18:16.
“He was a big surprise,” Smith said. “He ran fourth on the team, which was his best place on the team in a long time.”
Mohawk finished 12th with 353 points. Junior Seth Hoynoski placed 28th in 17:30, a personal best by 19 seconds.
“I wasn’t in great shape at the beginning of the season and I was so far behind my teammates,” Hoynoski said. “I got back in cross country shape and I’m very happy.”
So was his coach.
“This was probably the best race they’ve run as a group,” Chadwick said.
Greenfield was 19th with 632 points. Sam Knight was the top runner for the Green Wave, finishing 107th in 19:06.
Mahar Regional School was 24th with 713 points. Andrew Hill posted a sub-20-minute time (19:50) for the Senators.