Finucane Leads Cross Country at MAPL Championships
James Finucane ’08 captured the Mid-Atlantic Prep League’s individual men’s cross country championship for the second straight year, and the Mercersburg men and women combined for four top-10 finishes at the 2007 MAPL Cross Country Championships November 7 in Hightstown, New Jersey.

Finucane finished the 5K course in 15:55, a full 42 seconds ahead of second-place men’s finisher Richard Lafferty of Hill. Teammate Ellis Mays ’10 captured eighth place (17:25).

In the women’s competition, Annie Spencer ’08 and Mackenzie Riford ’11 took third place (19:40) and fourth place (19:45), respectively. (Spencer’s third-place finish was her second in as many years at the event.) Kathrine Warren of Peddie was the individual champion (19:30); Mercersburg’s Sarah Duda ’10 (21:10) finished 12th.

"It was a fantastic meet and a great end to the season," Head Coach Betsy Willis said. "Every athlete on the team ran a personal record for 2007 today, and 80 percent of the kids ran a lifetime personal record today."

Additional Blue Storm finishers included Remy Wheat ’08 (22:05, 21st) and Jenna Spagnolo ’08 (25:07, 33rd) on the women’s side. Mercersburg men finishing included Mark Herring ’09 (18:54, 28th), Trent Woodham ’08 (19:06, 30th), Lawrence Sohn ’08 (19:56, 34th), Jae Nam ’10 (19:58, 35th), and Adam Wechter ’09 (20:11, 36th).

As a team, the Blue Storm men placed fifth and the women fourth.

Men’s team results: Hill 46, Peddie 62, Lawrenceville 71, Blair 74, Mercersburg 101, Hun 178.

Women’s team results: Lawrenceville 47, Blair 62, Peddie 63, Mercersburg 72, Hill 102.