The Hopedale team works with a purpose – the Boston Herald

WRENTHAM – As Hopedale cross-country runner Ben Powell crossed the finish line in Saturday’s Frank Mooney Invitational presented by the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association, he raised his hand well above his pink jersey and pointed his finger at the sky.

His No. 1 point was taking first place in the small-school boys’ 5K race, achieving a personal best with a time of 16:36.65. Finishing the season at the highest level is important to him.

But because the entire team wore purple ribbons pinned to pink shirts, the victory took on a special depth.

“We all wear anti-cancer wristbands because our team photographer and our school photographer (Steve B assigned) passed away, as did my uncle (Russ), so it means a lot to me that I won this race with it on. Powell said. “Some of our runners had something like ‘For Bass’ on their feet. It’s a huge thing we’ve done. … I think every time we put this jersey on, I think about it. That’s why we run. That’s why we wear these T-shirts. That’s why I personally run.”

The entire group of Hopedale boys performed well in the race, with Ben Stone in particular taking third place (17:04.67). Ethan DeWolf (18:21.96) and Bishoy Bebawy (21:44.83) finished outside the top ten, but all four broke their personal bests by a large margin.

“It makes every runner a lot more confident because we finished second in DVC,” Powell said. “We all did well today, we all hit PRs in what, 30 seconds? This gives us more hope. And some of our guys that are on our varsity team are at states now and one of them could win it. This will give us more momentum to be better as a team and continue working together.”

Personal bests were the theme of all the remaining small school races in the afternoon.

The top boys 5K runner in the junior and senior divisions, Shepherd Hill’s Nathaniel Grant (15:53.89), distinguished himself by setting new records with Riley LePage (11th, 16:54.88). In the same race, Dedham’s Zachary Lemberger (fourth, 16:28.01) and Townsend Roussin (16:30.61) and Dartmouth’s Tyler Amaral (third, 16:09.23) achieved this feat with three teammates .

Whitinsville-Christian’s Emily Flagg won the junior and senior women’s 5K in a personal best of 17:21.92, and teammate Emma Wierenga was fourth in 18:05.51. Cameron Davis of Oxford (17:43.82) and Maggie Kuchman of Holliston (17:49.17) overtook Wierenga in second and third place.

Melrose’s Reilly Powell ran well ahead of everyone else in the sophomore girls’ 5K, finishing in 19:29.70.

Norwell dominated the freshman girls 3K, with Katherine Murray taking first place in 11:10.12. Hadley Amon (12:03.88) was fourth, and Olivia Sowiński (12:04.35) was fifth.