Leaders of the Pack: The 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Girls Cross Country All-Scholastics

TAUNTON — Another high school cross country season has come and gone in the Greater Taunton area.

Bridgewater-Raynham (4-0, 4-0 Southeast Conference) cruised to another SEC title and win at the SEC Championship. Bristol-Plymouth (2-2, 2-2 Mayflower Athletic Conference) and Dighton-Rehoboth (3-3, 3-3 South Coast Conference) both had even seasons while Taunton (2-3, 2-3 Hockomock) put in some solid performances.

With the fall season now in the rearview, here's a final look back at the Greater Taunton area girls cross country runners who stood out among the crowd to earn their spot as 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Girls Cross Country All-Scholastics.

Runner of the Year

Camden Strandberg, Bridgewater-Raynham

The sophomore had another stellar season for the Trojans this fall, recording a personal record of 19:09.8 as she won the ASICS MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational Small/Medium Sophomore 5K. Other notable performances include winning the SEC Championship with a time of 19:26.4 and finishing 10th with a time of 20:06 at the Ocean State XC Invitational. She finished 48th out of 183 with a time of 20:08.2 at the MIAA Division 1 Championship.

Both the SEC MVP and Taunton Daily Gazette Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year for the second year in a row, Strandberg is also an Enterprise/Patriot Ledger Second Team All-Scholastic. A key member of both the basketball and outdoor track teams as well, the sky is the limit for Strandberg athletically over her next two years at B-R.

First Team All-Scholastics

Emersyn DePonte, Taunton

The junior continued to led the way for the Tigers this fall, recording a season best time of 19:15.5 as she finished 20th out of 137 in the ASICS MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational Large 5K. Other notable performances include finishing 13th with a time of 20:47.1 at the Hockomock Championship and 22nd out of 141 at the MIAA Division 1A Championship. She also recorded dual meet wins against Milford (21:10), Attleboro (21:53) and King Philip (22:15).

A Hockomock All-Star and the 2021 Taunton Daily Gazette Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, DePonte is also a key member of the indoor and outdoor track teams and looks set to continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into her senior year.

Sarah Mendonca, Taunton

The senior wrapped up a strong high school cross country career with another impressive campaign, recording a personal best time of 20:51.2 as she finished 63rd out of 137 in the ASICS MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational Large 5K. Other notable performances include finishing 17th with a time of 21:17.9 at the Hockomock Championship and second with a time of 21:30 in a dual meet against Milford.

A Hockomock Honorable Mention, Mendonca is also a key member of the indoor and outdoor track teams and will surely be missed at Taunton next year.

Tessa Bringardner, Bridgewater-Raynham

The sophomore made a name for herself with the Trojans this fall, recording a personal best time of 21:11 as she finished 13th in the MSTCA Frank Mooney Coaches Invitational Large Sophomore 5K. Other notable performances include finishing seventh with a time of 21:50.6 at the SEC Championship and 20th out of 98 in the ASICS MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational Small/Medium Sophomore 5K. She finished 71st out of 126 with a time of 22:25.4 at the MIAA Division 1B Championship.

An SEC All-Star, Bringardner is also a key member of the indoor and outdoor track teams and looks set to continue to grow and improve as an athlete over her next two years at B-R.

Molly Jesson, Bridgewater-Raynham

The junior established herself as a key figure for the Trojans this fall, recording a personal best time of 21:03.6 as she finished 13th in the MSTCA Frank Mooney Coaches Invitational Large Junior 5K. Other notable performances include finishing 60th out of 161 with a time of 21:10.2 in the ASICS MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational Medium 5K and sixth with a time of 21:31.3 at the SEC Championship. She finished 57th out of 126 with a time of 21:54.2 at the MIAA Division 1B Championship.

An SEC All-Star, Jesson is also a member of the indoor track team and looks set to continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into her senior year.

Sydney O’Donnell, Bridgewater-Raynham

The senior wrapped up her stellar high school cross country career with another strong season, recording a personal best time of 18:54.6 as she finished 14th in the ASICS MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational Medium 5K, the best PR of any Greater Taunton girls cross country runner this season. Other notable performances include finishing second with a time of 19:34.7 at the SEC Championship and 14th with a time of 19:59.1 at the MIAA Division 1B Championship.

An SEC All-Star and Enterprise/Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic, O'Donnell is also a key member of the indoor track and lacrosse teams and her leadership and abilities will certainly be missed at B-R next year.

Brenna Woodbury, Bridgewater-Raynham

The junior had another strong campaign for the Trojans this fall, recording a personal best time of 20:35.6 as she finished fourth at the SEC Championship. Other notable outings include finishing 44th out of 161 with a time of 20:29.4 in the ASICS MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational Medium 5K and seventh with a time of 20:43.9 in the MSTCA Frank Mooney Coaches Invitational Large Junior 5K. She finished 39th out of 126 with a time of 21:02.6 at the MIAA Division 1B Championship.

An SEC All-Star and Enterprise/Patriot Ledger Second Team All-Scholastic, Woodbury is also a key member of the basketball and outdoor track teams and looks set to continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into her senior year.

Arianna Soito, Bristol-Plymouth

The sophomore has emerged as one of the top runners for the Craftsmen, finishing ninth overall with a time of 27:33 in a dual meet against Tri-County.

An MAC All-Star, Soito is also a member of the track team and should continue to grow and improve as an athlete over her next two years at B-P.

Jaelyn Johnson, Dighton-Rehoboth

The sophomore put in another strong campaign for the Falcons this fall, recording a personal-best time of 21:45.9 as she finished 17th in the ASICS MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational Small/Medium Sophomore 5K. Other notable performances include finishing 11th with a time of 22:00 in the MSTCA Frank Mooney Coaches Invitational Small Sophomore 5K and 62nd out of 139 with a time of 22:53.3 in the MIAA Division 3C Qualifier.

Also a key member of the indoor and outdoor track teams, expect Johnson to continue to grow and improve as a leading runner at D-R over the next two years.

Mari Lavigne, Dighton-Rehoboth

The senior wrapped up a solid high school cross country career with another strong season, recording a personal best time of 23:41.5 as she finished 127th out of 168 in the ASICS MSTCA Bob Glennon Twilight Invitational Small 5K. Other notable performances this fall include finishing 99th out of 166 with a time of 24:07.5 in the MSTCA Frank Mooney Coaches Invitational Small Junior/Senior 5K and 26th with a time of 24:49 at the SCC Championship.

Also a key member of the indoor and outdoor track teams, Lavigne will surely be missed at D-R next year.

Second Team All-Scholastics

Arianna Abatangelo, Taunton

Audrey Lambert, Bridgewater-Raynham

Olivia Sanchez, Bristol-Plymouth

Hailey McCracken, Dighton-Rehoboth

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Here are the 2023 Taunton Gazette Girls Cross Country All-Scholastics