XC Team Hitting Their Stride

After an injury-plagued 2023, the Catholic Memorial cross country team have found great consistency in 2024.

About a month into the season, the team stands at 2-1 in conference dual meets and has finished no worse than second in their three invitational races of the year.

Most recently, the team won the small school race at the Manchester Invitation and beat Xaverian for the first time since 2021.

The team of 5K runners is led by Michael Upton ‘26, who has yet to place lower than third in all races this season. He ran a personal best of 16:11 at the Vineyard Invitational, which was good enough for first place. 

At the September 24 meet against Xaverian at Powisset Farm in Dover, Upton ran 16:30 and broke the course record previously held by CJ Sullivan ‘23.

Not far behind is Daniel Norton ‘25, who is showing no signs of the injuries that kept him on the sidelines last year. The senior ran 16:30 at the Vineyard Invitational and has been running within 10 seconds of his PR this season. 

Rounding out the varsity squad are Gavin Carey ‘25 (17:10), Gerrad Stock ‘28 (17:14), Daniel Kaleba ‘27 (17:31), Zach Vianna ‘25 (18:00), Rudy DeMeo ‘25 (18:14), and Jude Kaleba ‘27 (18:55). With the exception of Jude Kaleba, these runners all ran a personal best or a season’s best against Xaveiran.

Based on their personal bests, the team should expect to be in a very tight race for the Division 1C team title. If the Knights finish in the top seven of the team results at the Division 1C Championship, they will compete at the Division 1 State Championship at Fort Devens.

The Knights will wrap up conference play against Saint John’s High School on October 1 and St. John’s Prep on October 8 before heading to New York for the Manhattan College Invitational on October 13.

The annual Catholic Memorial Invitational at Franklin Park is scheduled for October 19, with the Catholic Conference Championship at the Wrentham Developmental Center set for October 22.