The Boston Public Schools (BPS) cross-country team is facing an unusual challenge this season, having competed in only one race during the first six weeks. Weather disruptions have led to the cancellation of two key events—the Ocean State Invitational on September 26 and the MSTCA Twilight Invitational large school race this past Sunday—both important competition opportunities for the team. With no league affiliation, BPS does not participate in regular-season dual meets, making these invitationals vital for maintaining race sharpness.
The team’s sole 5K race this fall was the Bay State Invitational on October 3, where the boys’ squad placed fourth and the girls’ team finished third. BPS is slated to return to competition Saturday at the Catholic Memorial Invitational, held at Franklin Park, which will serve as its final major test before postseason events.
Senior Bradon Spiess, one of the team’s top runners, described the Twilight Invitational cancellation as “frustrating,” but emphasized the team’s focus on moving forward. “We have to move on. Let’s do a workout the next day and bounce back like it never happened,” Spiess said.
BPS is a citywide cooperative team with 40 runners—25 boys and 15 girls—representing five different schools. The program was revived in 2015 after nearly a decade without cross-country offerings in Boston’s public schools. Before 2022, neither team had qualified for the All-State meet. However, last season marked a milestone when BPS captured its first-ever Division 2 boys’ and girls’ state titles, with the boys scoring 105 points and the girls 115.
Expectations remain high this year, bolstered by a core group of experienced runners. Four of the top five boys and five of the seven leading girls from the All-State qualifiers have returned. Spiess leads the boys, while senior Sara Blanco anchors the girls’ team. Both are among the top competitors in Division 2.
Coach Mike Ward highlighted the team’s improvement during the summer, citing that many of the seniors and juniors achieved “big jumps” in their training. Spiess, who placed ninth in the Division 2 state meet last fall, overcame a spinal staph infection that sidelined him for most of the indoor track season. He rebuilt his fitness over spring and summer, achieving personal bests in the mile and 5K recently. Blanco also recorded a significant personal best at the Bay State Invitational, running 17:52.3 in the 5K and setting the city’s female high school record. She attributes her progress to increased training volume, including regular 8-10 mile runs in the offseason.
Both athletes emphasize mental preparation in the absence of frequent competition. Blanco said the team focuses on simulating race conditions during workouts to stay sharp. The team’s experienced roster also includes seniors Adam Kramer, Khalid Jama, Nathaniel Iliff, Anjuli Szydlo, Ava Levine Fried, and juniors Maya Friedmann and Maddy Lemay.
Looking ahead, the Catholic Memorial Invitational, one of New England’s oldest meets now in its 65th edition, will take place Saturday at Franklin Park. Due to ongoing construction at White Stadium, the course has been adjusted for a second year, notably repositioning the steep "Bear Cage Hill" section to the middle rather than the final mile.
Meanwhile, the MSTCA Twilight Invitational’s small and medium school races occurred Saturday at Cape Cod Fairgrounds, with the large school race canceled due to muddy conditions. Weston secured the boys’ medium school title, led by junior Hunter Waechter, who won the individual race with a personal best. Whitinsville Christian’s Emily Flagg delivered the top individual performance in the girls’ medium school race, leading her team to victory.