Whitinsville Christian, Molly Lashley, Cross Country Girls, Martha’s Vineyard Invitational

Kudos to Whitinsville Christian senior captain Molly Lashley who won the girls varsity race at the 14th Martha’s Vineyard High School Cross-Country Invitational last Saturday.

Lashley finished the 5km course in 18: 47.29, well ahead of freshman Macey Shriner (19: 30.81) at Plymouth North.

“Yeah, it was a really good race,” said Lashley. “I embarked on this quest with the desire to win and achieve a really solid time.

“I was pretty much alone from the first quarter mile to the end,” she added. “The last time I was there was my sophomore year and I was second. I won it in first year. It was pretty cool to start and end my career in high school by winning the race. “

Lashley, whose personal best 5K is 18:21, never ceases to amaze Crusaders coach Chris Vander Baan.

“She is determined to get better every day,” said Vander Baan. “I’ve worked with a lot of kids, but she’s the most committed runner I’ve ever worked with. For Molly, it’s not about winning, it’s about improving. It is already very advanced for this point of the season.

The plan last weekend, according to Vander Baan, was for Lashley to be slow and perform his regular intervals, but that all changed as soon as the gunshot went off.

“She came out incredibly fast,” said Vander Baan. “She was just overzealous. She just took off.

Vander Baan said Lashley has become the complete package.

“Molly has grown from a shy, quiet child to a brilliant leader with our women’s team and that wasn’t the case two years ago,” said Vander Baan. “She is all that. She works very hard, leading by example and encouraging the team. “

In 2019, Lashley, multiple-time Super Teamer T&G, finished second in the CMass Division 2 meeting at the Gardner Municipal Golf Course in 19:57, 17 seconds behind individual champion Jen Coseno of Sutton. Lashley returned to Gardner a week later for the All-States and was ninth in 19:53.

Lashley, who says she will decide on a college engagement in the coming weeks, is anxiously awaiting the playoffs.

“Individually I would love, in terms of time, to break 18 (minutes) in a 5K and be in contention for the state title in Division 2,” said Lashley. “It would be an incredible way to end my career.”

Whitinsville Christian held off Shepherd Hill at Martha’s Vineyard, 43-61, for the tag team title.

The Crusaders had five riders in the top 16, including junior Emily Dill (6th, 20: 29.24), junior Fiona Donnelly (11th, 20: 51.12), senior Rebecca Dowling (14th, 21:11, 15) and junior Sophia Dill (16th, 21: 28.72).

Shepherd Hill junior Emery Mullen was fifth in 20: 02.44, while seniors Anna Thomas (20: 49.88) and Grace Bateman (20: 55.33) were 10th and 12th respectively.

—Contact Steve Farley at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @tgsports.