Sports
Cross Country Team Finds Strength In Numbers
Cross country team has big talent pool to draw from.
This season marks the biggest cross-country team that Joe DiBiase has put out there in his near 20-year run as the Pioneers head coach.
With 40 boys and 30 girls running for Lynnfield this season, DiBiase has used help from other coaches on staff, but most importantly it might come down to some of his more experienced runners to help be coaches on the course and during training for meets.
“A lot of teams in our league are real big, so you kind of have to deal with it,” said DiBiase. “The older kids help out because they know how to set the tone and lead by example. They work hard and hopefully the new kids will follow the leader.”
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The girls will be led by Lexi Buonfiglio, who already made some moves in her first meet this season in a tri-meet versus Hamilton-Wenham and Manchester-Essex. With a time of 19:54, Buonfiglio set a school record that has stood since 2004.
“She’s always been good,” said DiBiase. “Even her first year running she’s been really good. She always ran well for us. She’s a three-season runner now and a very talented runner.”
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Buonfiglio was a Cape Ann League All-Star last season and also qualified for the All-State meet. Sammi Albanese also joined her teammate in the All-States last season, and she will captain the team with Buonfiglio, Patty Kloza and Marina Maylor.
The girls will look to make the All-State meet for the first time as a team since 1998, and the team depth might have a chance to tackle the challenging feat.
“You need to have a strong pack of runners,” said DiBiase. “You can’t just have a couple good runners and a couple OK runners. You really need five runners who are very good, because those five runners will place for your team.”
On the boys side, Andrew Drinkwater has battled a bit of injury, but he is back for another season as the top runner and leaders for the Pioneers.
“He’s done a great job,” said the head coach. “He leads by his hard work and by example.”
Eddie Moore is back as the No. 2 runner, and a trio of new runners will look to add depth to the talent pool for the Pioneers. Junior Mike Trembley has surprised in his first season to take over the third-spot in the Lynnfield rotation, while Alex Juliano and freshman David Astrofski also join the team for the first time.
DiBiase will also have captains Matt Breslow and Graham Leman at his disposal.
