by Camille Bowman

Girls’ cross country, 3-0, has beaten Norwood and Braintree 15-50, and Wellesley 27-28.

According to coach Brandon Mogayzel, this year’s 60-girl team is the largest ever, and he cites it as one of their strengths.

Senior Evie Heffernan, captain along with seniors Ana Horn, Lizzie Rudie, and Molly Strange, also stated that the team’s size is a strength, saying, “we have great depth and everyone has at least one other person to run with.”

Mogayzel said seniors Maeve Greeley and Evie Heffernan, juniors Sonya Jampel and Isabella Reilly, and sophomore Leah Metzger have stood out so far.

Heffernan also picked Greeley as a star runner so far, saying her time at the last meet was spectacular, and that Greeley had really stepped it up after being injured for most of last season.

The team has about 25 newcomers, according to Mogayzel. “They are learning what it means to train to compete. I don’t expect many to contribute to the scoring this season, rather to develop and learn so they can contribute in the future,” he said.

The tigers do not currently have any weaknesses, said Mogayzel, but says the coaches are already looking into the future. “We will be graduating some of our top runners this year, (and) will have some gaps to fill.”

Heffernan said the team’s goals “range from becoming a super-close team to being undefeated in the league,” and that one is always qualifying for the All-State meet.

Mogayzel also wants to bring his team to the All-State meet, as “last year was the team’s first trip in almost a decade.”

In a tri-meet at Walpole Wednesday, the tigers will compete against Needham, the team’s only loss last year by one point, according to Mogayzel. Heffernan predicts they will be the tigers’ toughest competition.