Historic run: Our 2023 Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, Super Team & All-Stars
The 2023 fall cross country season was one to remember for the Apponequet girls team.
The Lakers captured their first conference championship in 35 years and qualified for the MIAA Div. 2 meet for the first time in school history. A first-year senior runner led the way for a young but talented team.
Here's a look at The Standard-Times' top girls cross country runners for the 2023 season.
RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Hailey Desmarais, Apponequet, Senior
When Hailey Desmarais looked up at the championship banner for cross country on the wall in Apponequet’s gymnasium and saw that the Lakers hadn’t won a conference title since 1989, it inspired her.
“I feel like I needed to change that,” she said.
So for the first time in her life, Desmarais decided to run cross country.
The Apponequet senior had an immediate impact.
With a background in road races, Desmarais took the SouthCoast by storm and helped lead the Lakers to their first South Coast Conference cross country championship in 35 years, earning her the 2023 Standard-Times Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award.
“We ended up winning, which is nice,” she said. “I’m really happy to be able to do that.”
WHY SHE WAS SELECTED
Desmarais proved to be the area’s top female runner and the only one to break 19 minutes for a 5K.
With Desmarais leading the pack, the Lakers won their first conference championship since 1989 and qualified for the Div. 2 meet for the first time in program history.
“What makes Hailey a good distance runner is her daily commitment to getting in the miles,” said Apponequet head coach Alex Walecka. “Not only the work she puts in at practice, but the work she puts in outside of practice separates her from other girls in the area.
“She has such a passion and exuberance for running.”
Desmarais grew up playing just about every sport — from gymnastics and swimming to soccer, field hockey and lacrosse — but there was just something different about running.
“I like when I get to the point in my run where things zone out and I can get in my thoughts,” she said. “It’s my personal time. It’s just peaceful.”
She began running 5Ks two years ago and quickly built up the mileage to run 10Ks, half-marathons, marathons and ultra-marathons.
Last year she completed what she calls her “year of crazy” in which she completed a half marathon, full marathon and ultra-marathon.
“I like to physically and mentally push myself to my max and my limits,” she said. “I want to keep going until I can’t.”
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KEY STATS
Desmarais’ season-best 5K time was 18:58.8. The South Coast Conference All-Star was second overall at the conference championship with a time of 20:20.5. She took third (18:58.8) at the Div. 2C meet and came in 12th (19:53.3) at the Div. 2 All-State meet as the top finisher among SouthCoast female runners. She also clocked a 19:42.9 to win the Franklin Park Invitational.
MVP MOMENT
While Desmarais ran faster times in other big meets, the performance that stood out for her was at the conference championship.
WHAT’S NEXT
After running winter track at Apponequet, Desmarais plans to take the high school spring track season off while focusing her attention on upcoming road races, including the prestigious Boston Marathon.
Next year, Desmarais will run both cross country and track at Franklin Pierce University.
“I’m excited about that,” said Desmarais. “College scouts came out in Wrentham and they spotted me and made me an offer."
She plans to study environmental science and physical therapy.
“It would allow me to do the sport I love and continue to help people do the sport they love,” the 18-year-old said. “I like that I could help someone better themselves to be the best athlete they could be.”
NOTES
Desmarais is the daughter of Susana and Dale Desmarais. She lives in Assonet. Her younger sister, Marissa, also ran cross country for Apponequet in the fall.
SUPER TEAM
Keltey Fournier, Apponequet, Sophomore
Fournier enjoyed a breakthrough sophomore campaign as she made big strides in her second year of running cross country and helped the Lakers win their first conference title since 1989. The South Coast Conference All-Star took fifth at the conference meet (22:04.4) and eighth at the State Coaches Invitational (21:37.1). She clocked a personal-best 21:16.1 to place 12th at the Twilight Invitational. “From freshman year on, she showed a passion for running and improved throughout the season,” said Apponequet head coach Alex Walecka. “She’s already a leader as a sophomore.”
Alexia Gonsalves, Old Rochester, Senior
Gonsalves set the pace for Old Rochester during the regular season as one of the team’s top runners once again, earning another Super Team honor. The South Coast Conference All-Star placed fourth at the conference meet (21:48) and went on to run a 21:46 at the Div. 2C meet to place 43rd overall. She clocked a 22:26 at the Div. 2 All-State meet. “She started the season really strong and had a great conference meet,” said Old Rochester head coach Jessica Pilla. “She had a really great regular season. Toward the end of the season, her body started fighting her.”
Aubrey Heise, Old Rochester, Senior
Heise capped off her high school cross country career by being named to the Super Team for the second straight year. The South Coast Conference All-Star took eighth place at the conference meet (22:29) and ran a 21:11 at the Div. 2C meet to place 32nd overall. She also ran 21:43 to come in 72nd at the Div. 2 All-State championship. "Besides her leadership, she's an extremely hard worker," said Old Rochester head coach Jessica Pilla. "She puts in extra work, completes extra reps and miles and is a true competitor."
Hannah Kuriscak, Apponequet, Sophomore
Kuriscak earned her second selection on the Super Team after a stellar sophomore season in which she clocked a season-best time of 20:43.8 at the Twilight Invitational. The South Coast Conference All-Star placed third at the conference meet (21:36.4) and was instrumental in the Lakers winning their first SCC title since 1989. She also came in fifth at the State Coaches Invitational (20:48.7). “Hannah is a very versatile athlete,” said Apponequet head coach Alex Walecka. “She runs cross country and plays basketball and runs spring track. She’s a hard worker no matter what sport she’s in. Even as a sophomore, she’s a leader on the team and the girls tend to admire her work ethic and follow her leadership.”
Madalena Morris, New Bedford, Junior
Morris came back from an early issue to once again be one of the area’s top female cross country runners, earning her third straight selection to the Super Team. The Southeast Conference All-Star placed fifth at the conference meet (20:52) and came in ninth at the Frank Kelley Meet’s junior race (20:49). She ran a personal-best 19:41 at the Barnstable Fairgrounds. She also clocked a 21:28 at the Div. 1 meet. “Her biggest impact she made was during the middle of the season,” said New Bedford head coach Jeremy Tilton. “She had some good performances at the invitationals.”
Hanna Whalley, Old Rochester, Senior
A two-time Standard-Times Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, Whalley was once again one of the area’s top distance runners in the fall. The South Coast Conference All-Star came in 11th at the conference meet (22:47) and placed 31st at the Div. 2C championship (21:10). She also ran a 21:25 to come in 52nd at the Div. 2 All-State meet despite running nearly two miles with only one shoe. “She had a slow start, but she came on at the end of the season,” said Old Rochester head coach Jessica Pilla. “She finished the season so strong. She came back from hip pain and other things going on. She worked hard to finish the season strong.”
ALL-STAR TEAM
Emily Abbott, Old Rochester, Senior
Abbott broke 21 minutes for a 5K this year as she clocked a 20:56 to place 24th at the Div. 2C meet at Wrentham. She also ran a 22:01 (86th) at the Div. 2 All-State meet and came in 16th (23:21) at the South Coast Conference championship.
Elena Aponte, GNB Voc-Tech, Junior
Aponte, a South Coast Conference All-Star, came back from an injury to lead the Bears at the State Vocational championship, where she ran a season-best 21:21. “She was injured early in the season and it took her half the season to come back and become our top runner at the end of the season,” said GNB Voc-Tech head coach Robert Southerland.
Madison Conner, Old Rochester, Junior
A two-time Super Teamer, Conner made big contributions for Old Rochester this year. The South Coast Conference All-Star took ninth at the conference meet (22:30). She also ran a 21:58 to place 45th at the Div. 2C meet and came in 99th at the Div. 2 All-State meet with a time of 22:18.
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Nevaeh Escobar, GNB Voc-Tech, Sophomore
Escobar broke 22 minutes in a 5K as she enjoyed a strong sophomore season. Her season best time was 21:58. She also captured a medal in the sophomore race at the Twilight Invitational.
Helena Morrison, Bishop Stang, Freshman
Morrison proved to be a rising star on the SouthCoast as a freshman runner for Bishop Stang. The Catholic Central League All-Star placed eighth at the conference meet (22:28) and clocked a 23:14 at the Div. 2C race. She also came in eighth out of 174 runners at the Twilight Invitational with a 13:40 over 2.1 miles. “She’s new and she’s a freshman and she’s phenomenal,” said Bishop Stang head coach Julie Isaksen. “She’s going to be one to watch in the future.”
Isabella Sergio, Apponequet, Junior
Sergio was a key contributor as the Lakers won their first South Coast Conference title since 1989. The SCC All-Star took seventh at the conference meet (22:28.5). She ran a personal-best 21:32.2 at the Div. 2C championship. “She had a really consistent season and she improved as the season went on,” said Apponequet head coach Alex Walecka.
HONORABLE MENTION
Marissa Desmarais, Apponequet, Junior; Nora McClurkin, Apponequet, Sophomore; Madeline Polochick, Apponequet, Junior; Lola Bergeron, Bishop Stang, Senior; Lauren Kelly, Dartmouth, Senior; Amya Moura, Dartmouth, Junior; Grace Sperry, Dartmouth, Freshman; Makai Vincent, Dartmouth, Senior; Emma Flannery, Fairhaven, Sophomore; Natalie Yochim, Fairhaven, Senior; Morgan Gonsalves, GNB Voc-Tech, Junior; Abigail McKeon, GNB Voc-Tech, Freshman; Melissa Ribeiro, New Bedford, Junior; Alaysha Sylvia-Figueroa, New Bedford, Freshman; Grace Hebert, Old Rochester, Freshman; Ella Milhench, Old Rochester, Sophomore.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2023 Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, Super Team and All-Stars
