Uxbridge's Aidan Ross adds another victory with repeat at Division 3 All-States

DEVENS — Uxbridge senior captain Aidan Ross loves to compete, but he can’t stress enough how much running means to him.

After another stellar performance in the Division 3 state championship Saturday at Willard Park, Ross has pretty much been accustomed to winning, too.

Ross didn’t break 15 minutes again like he did at last year’s All-States, but he repeated as champion, finishing the relatively flat 5K course in 15 minutes, 6.45 seconds, 34 seconds faster than his friend and rival, Northbridge junior Marcus Reilly, who took second in 15:40.37.

Ross, though, wanted to make sure his teammates received their just due credit for a terrific season. After all, that’s the Spartans' way under longtime coach Walter Berkowicz.

“It feels great,” the Wake Forest-bound Ross said. “It’s kind of big for my teammates, too. These guys work hard. They’re awesome teammates. To be able to go out and win All-States, it means a lot to me.”

The Spartans (233) finished fifth. Lenox Memorial (82) was team champion.

Defending champion Parker Charter, which was led by junior Caleb Hatlevig (seventh, 16:25.35) and sophomore Henry Jacobsen (eighth, 16:26.65), finished fourth at 151. Bromfield (sixth, 246) and Gardner (ninth, 286) also cracked the top 10.

Ross admitted he thought about trying to break 15 minutes again like he did in the same race at the Wrentham Developmental Center, when he posted a blistering 14:47.2, at the time a course record.

“That was kind of in the back of my mind,” Ross said. “It would have been nice to do it, but I didn’t want to go to the well to do it.”

Interestingly, Ross woke up Saturday morning with a queasy stomach, but he was still determined to maintain his usual routine 3-mile run at 5 a.m. Unfortunately, he really couldn’t eat anything for breakfast. He was a bit worried, but not panicked.

“I woke up not feeling well, but I wasn’t too nervous,” Ross said. “I had to run first. I usually do six to eight hours before a race. I didn’t feel great until an hour before this race.”

It’s hard to believe that Ross finished 120th at All-States two years ago as a sophomore. That disheartening outcome has never left him and probably never will, even when he becomes a Demon Deacon next fall.

“One of the biggest, most humbling experiences of my whole career,” said Ross, who also claimed victories this fall at the MSTCA Bay State and Catholic Memorial invitationals, SWCL championship meet and this month's Division 3B race. “It’s never left my mind for the past four years. That stung more than anything. It’s about working hard and being consistent.”

Ross led from start to finish, but always kept a wary eye on Reilly, with whom he occasionally trains and enjoys competing against.

“Yeah, I was going to go out there and see how the race went,” Ross said. “He’s a great competitor. I kind of reacted to what Marcus did. It’s more about the competition than the time. The longer Marcus is in the race, the better chance he’d beat me. I wasn’t going to take the risk. I didn’t want to worry about him.”

Reilly finished second to Ross at last year’s All-States but was disappointed with his performance. On Saturday, Reilly was satisfied and upbeat with his effort.

“I thought I ran pretty well,” said Reilly, who has decided to forgo the chance to extend his season to compete at regionals and nationals in order to get ready for indoor track. “I was happy with the time. The course isn’t as fast as we thought it was. I think it’s slower than Wrentham. I feel better. I’m in a good position for indoor (track).”

Reilly was happy for Ross and has great respect for the senior. Once Ross opened up a sizable lead, Reilly's primary goal was to earn a podium finish, and he did.

“Aidan has had a phenomenal season,” Reilly said. “I just tried to keep within eye contact. I went out on my own pace. I didn’t want to finish lower than third. He’s a great competitor. He’s a great guy as well. I’m sad to see him go to college.”

Reilly joked that he’d love to someday take on Ross on the track. “I’d love to face him in the mile,” said Reilly, who has posted a 4:07 in the event.

Ross said you never know. “He has better wheels than me,” Ross said.

Littleton junior Tim Rank placed third in 16:11.26, one spot higher than last year.

“I’m pretty disappointed,” Rank said. “Third place is pretty good considering the kids in front of me. They’re national-caliber athletes. I wanted to be more in the mix than I was. It’s a place improvement from last year. I had a plan to be with Marcus and Aidan with two miles to go and then make my move. I just started fading, and I wasn’t able to put myself there. I wanted to be up there with them.”

Nashoba Regional junior Caroline Collins was thrilled with her second place in the Division 2 girls' race. Collins, who joked that she’s become better known as “Freddy Collins’s younger sister”, finished in 18:37.52.

Junior Carmen Luisi of Holliston won in 18:27.37. Groton-Dunstable junior Georgia Brooks was sixth in 19:13.15.

Collins said she put herself in a good position in the first mile.

“It feels good,” said Collins, whose brother Freddy (now at Boston University) won the Division 2 boys' race last year. “It’s really how the cards fall. It really depends on how other athletes fare. I came here to do my best. I don’t like to focus too much on my time. This was one of my highlight meets of the season.”

While Holliston (83) repeated as state champion, Whitinsville Christian (99) finished second, led by eighth grader Abby Flagg's third-place finish in 18:54.87. Crusaders sophomore Emma Wierenga was 11th in 19:22.81.

“I thought I was going to do a little better (time-wise),” said Flagg, who has decided to skip regionals. “I was expecting to (post a personal best). I think the cold weather had a little effect. I placed better than I thought I was going to. Top five was my goal. It was nice making friends with girls that are at my speed. It’s nice to get to know girls who I’ll race against.”

Nashoba junior Adam Balewicz, who finished third in Division 2 boys, had higher expectations for himself.

“I did what I didn’t want to do,” said Balewicz, who finished in 15:40.63. “I led the race for the first three miles. I let both of them get on my back on the kick. Not an ideal strategy. I could tell the Burlington kid (Rithikh Prakash) was right behind me the entire time.”

Prakash, a senior, won in 15:39.2, followed by Falmouth senior Henry Gartner (15:40.44). Balewicz regrets not staying with the lead pack.

“I planned on winning,” said Balewicz, who broke Nashoba’s course record that was held by Collins. “I believed I could win if I could race my race. I had a good season, but it’s a crappy way to end it. Hopefully, I’ll do better there (regionals) than I did today. I was the first junior to finish, and that’s awesome. I have a good chance to win next year.”

Bromfield sophomore Evelyn Wool led a strong Central Mass. contingent in Division 3, which was won by Weston sophomore Alessandra Gavris in 18:47.71.

Junior Madelyn Germain, who attends Norfolk Aggie but resides in Uxbridge, was second in 18:54.89. Wool finished fourth in 19:26.82.

“I don’t know, it was different than what I expected,” Wool said. “I was hoping to do top five, so I’m happy about that. I was happy I started out fast. Just go do my best.”

Eighth grader Cameron Davis of Oxford was seventh in 20:00.87, followed by Murdock sophomore Avery Murphy (eighth, 20:08.41), Bromfield freshman Rosie Bradley (ninth, 20:11.39) and Sutton freshman Annabel Lamoreaux (12th, 20:24.24).

The Suzies, who unexpectedly qualified as a team, were a surprising second at 163 behind champion Weston (59).

—Contact Steve Farley at sports@telegram.com.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Uxbridge's Aidan Ross repeats as D3 All-State cross-country champion