State qualifiers, MVPs and more: Cape High School Girls Cross-Country All-Stars Team

Cross-country is all about long-distance running, and the athletes on Cape Cod went the distance with state championship races, personal records, school records and at least one underclassman who earned back-to-back MVP titles.

No matter the course they ran on, these athletes proved this season they are some of the best runners, not only on Cape Cod, but in the state.

Presenting the Cape Cod Times Girls Cross Country All-Scholastic 2023 Team.

First Team

Ava Bullock, Barnstable

The Cape and Islands League Atlantic Division MVP Bullock was busy in her junior season as she raced in the MIAA Division 1 State Championships (5K run) for 34th place with a time of 19:46.54, the Bay State Invitational champion, Cape and Islands League Meet (champion), and led Barnstable to a qualifying performance at the MIAA Divisional Qualifying Championships with an eighth-place overall finish. She was named a Cape and Islands League All-Star and was undefeated in dual meets.

So far in her career, she is the 2021 Division 1A State Champion, four-time Cape and Islands Atlantic Division MVP, four-time Cape and Islands League All-Star, and has a 5K personal record time of 18:28.

"Ava is one of the smartest racers I have ever seen," Barnstable coach Keith Caldwell said. "She has been one of the elite runners in the state since her eighth-grade year."

Elise Casso, Falmouth Academy

In her sophomore season, the two-time Cape and Islands League Lighthouse MVP (won as freshman) and All-Star, Casso was undefeated in dual meet competition. She placed first in the Small School Sophomore Division at the Frank Mooney Invitational where she ran 19:28 in the 5K, and she finished 16th in the MIAA Division 2 State Championships with a time of 20:00.18.

"Elise has led our girls team for the past two years and is a dedicated athlete," coach Jason Cullinane said. "She is fearless and gives everything she has when she races."

Callie DeDecko, Barnstable

The senior was named a Cape and Islands League Atlantic All-Star, was the sixth Red Hawk finisher (13th overall) at Cape and Islands League Meet and sixth finisher (69th overall) at the MIAA Divisional Qualifying Meet. She ran in the MIAA Division 1 State Championships for 41st place with a time of 22:26.15.

She is a three-time Cape and Islands League All-Star, second Barnstable finisher (8th overall) at 2021 MIAA Divisional Qualifying Meet, third finisher (23rd overall) at 2021 MIAA State Championships, and has a 5K personal record of 18:57.

"Callie provided depth to our lineup as well as outstanding senior leadership," Caldwell said. "She is one of the most knowledgeable athletes about her own sport."

Lilly DeDecko, Barnstable

The senior capped off her final season as a Cape and Islands League All-Star, placed third at the Cape and Islands League Meet and went unbeaten in dual meets. She also placed 15th overall at the MIAA Divisional Qualifying Meet and ran in the MIAA Division 1 State Championship for 41st place with a time of 20:01.48. She finished her high school career as a three-time Cape and Islands Meet All-Star and had a 5K personal best time of 19:09.

"Lilly is one of the most dedicated athletes to the sport of running," Caldwell said. "She overcame a serious injury early in her career, and she has worked her way to be one of the best runners in the state."

Chloe Dibb, Barnstable

In her final high school season, Dibb was named a Cape and Islands League All-Star, and placed fifth at the Cape and Islands League Meet, 12th at the MIAA Divisional Qualifying Meet and ran in the MIAA Division 1 State Championships for 45th place with a time of 20:06.85.

She finished her career as the number one finisher for Barnstable at the 2022 MIAA Divisional Qualifying Meet, (fifth overall), a four-time Cape and Islands League All Star and a 5K personal record time of 18:39. She is the reigning Division 2 Indoor Champion in the 1000-meter run, as well as a New England qualifier outdoors in the 800-meter run.

"Chloe has been one of the most reliable and consistently fast racers for us over her five years of running cross country," Caldwell said. "She remains one of the best cross country and track athletes in the state."

Siena Lauze, Dennis-Yarmouth

The junior captain competed at the Nike Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon in June. She was named a Cape and Islands League Atlantic All-Star and placed 27th in the MIAA Division 3 State Championships with a time of 20:50.49. She also plays basketball for D-Y and was picked as the Coaches Award recipient.

"This carried over to a very strong summer of training," D-Y coach James Hoar said. "We went head-to-head with Olivia (Pendleton) daily in practice and the two became great friends and pushed each other."

Madeline Mahoney, Nauset

The junior captain led the way for the Warriors this season. She placed second at the Cape Cod All-League Meet, ninth at the Div. 2B State XC Championship Meet and 19th in the MIAA Division 2 State Championships with a time of 20:18.36.

"Madeline has had amazing accomplishments in only her second year of running," coach Moira Nobili said. "Top in the league, division and state. Not only in cross country, but indoor and outdoor track. Maddie’s love for running, competing and being part of the team is infectious. She motivates everyone to push themselves to be their best, including herself."

Olivia Pendleton, Dennis-Yarmouth

The junior captain was named the Team MVP and was chosen as the recipient of the Kristen-Hoar Polizzotto Memorial Award, which is the most prestigious award given. Pendleton was also named a Cape and Islands League Atlantic All-Star, and placed 10th in the MIAA Division 3 State Championships with a time of 19:42.01.

"Olivia came into the season in great shape and was injured in the spring (IT Band) and could not finish the spring season," D-Y coach James Hoar said. "She did physical therapy all summer and put in a lot of miles over the summer. She is very focused and determined and is a leader by example."

Quinn Powers, Cape Cod Academy

As a seventh grader, Powers was named a Cape & Islands League Lighthouse All-Star and was the Seahawks Co-MVP. She finished 40th at the Division 3 MIAA State Championships in 21:18.30, and finished 11th at the Division 3C MIAA Sectional Meet in 21:06. She also had a second place finish in the Lighthouse Division Cape and Islands League Meet in 20:54.

Grace (Gigi) Wilson, Cape Cod Academy

Wilson was named a Cape and Islands League Atlantic All-Star as a seventh grader, and was the team Co-MVP alongside Powers. She finished 46th at the Division 3 MIAA State Championships in 21:31, and finished at the Division 3C MIAA Sectional Meet in 21:50. She won the Lighthouse Division Cape and Islands League Meet in 20:46.

Second Team

Arabella “Bella” Alexander, Dennis-Yarmouth

Alexander had a breakout sophomore fall season and was voted by her teammates as the most improved athlete. She was named a Cape and Islands League Atlantic All-Star and finished 90th in the MIAA Division 3 State Championships with a time of 22:19.42.

"She met every challenge we gave her. With each race, Bella improved tremendously, pushing Ashley for the third spot," Caldwell said.

Eleanor Bullock, Barnstable

As just an eighth grader, Eleanor Bullock was named a Cape and Islands League All-Star, was fifth Barnstable finisher (63rd overall) at the MIAA Divisional Qualifying Meet, fourth Red Hawk finisher (8th overall) at the Cape and Islands League Meet and has a 5K personal record time of 20:54. She also competed in the MIAA Division 1 State Championships with a time of 22:03.03.

"Eleanor really stepped up in the big meets at the end of the season," Bullock said. "For an eighth grader, she demonstrated a great deal of poise."

Hailey Butler, Sturgis West

The junior placed 54th in the MIAA Division 3 State Championships with a time of 21:51.55 and was named a Cape and Islands League Atlantic All-Star.

Kerri Clark, Dennis-Yarmouth

As an eighth grader, Clark competed in the MIAA Division 3 State Championships for 97th place with a time of 22:30.91.

Kera Clifford, Barnstable

As a freshman, Clifford was named a Cape and Islands League All-Star, won the team Rookie of the Year Award, was fourth Red Hawks finisher (60th overall) at the MIAA Divisional Qualifying Meet, fifth BHS finisher (11th overall) at the Cape and Islands League Meet and has a 5K personal record of 20:48. She ran in the MIAA Division 1 State Championships with a time of 21:11.72.

"Kera was a great addition to our team this year," Caldwell said. "She ran consistently well all season long, and she is a big reason we qualified for the state championships."

Ashley Daignault, Dennis-Yarmouth

The senior captain was the fifth runner as a junior and moved up to the third spot this fall. She was named a Cape and Islands League Atlantic All-Star and was voted the Unsung Hero Award by her teammates. She also competed in the MIAA Division 3 State Championships with a time of 22:40.48.

"She is a strong and determined athlete and was a quiet leader who helped the younger girls understand the nuances of training and cross country," D-Y coach James Hoar said.

Natalie Pil, Falmouth Academy

The senior captain and Cape and Islands League Lighthouse All-Star set a personal best of 23:19 for 5K at the Mass State Div 2C Championship, where she placed 79th. She improved her 5K time over last year by almost three minutes.

"Natalie had been with the program since inception and is the heart of our team," Cullinane said. "She set the example as team captain and was cheering on her teammates when she wasn’t running herself. She was consistently our second runner and a pillar of the team, and always with a smile on her face."

Grace Chayna, Sandwich

As a freshman, Chayna finished 44th in the MIAA Division 3 Championships with a time of 23:41.32.

Honorable Mention

Lilly Chaprales, Cape Cod Academy

Emele Conlon, Cape Cod Academy

Noelle Jatczak, Cape Cod Academy

Emma Gallagher, Dennis-Yarmouth

Zoe Johnson, Dennis-Yarmouth

Phoebe Myers, Dennis-Yarmouth

Grace McGlinchey, Cape Cod Academy

Nora Riek, Cape Cod Academy

Alexa Schroeder, Martha's Vineyard

Anna Jensen, Mashpee

Piper Milde, Mashpee

Laura Stone, Monomoy

Hannah Harrington, Nantucket

Nicole Boyce, Nauset

Emerson Meager, St. John Paul II

Lexi Eastman, Sandwich

Avalena Paxton, Sandwich

Ashlyn White, Sandwich

Thea Haupt, Upper Cape

Claire Heller, Sturgis East

Audrey MacKenzie, Sturgis East

Hailey Patrish Valencia, Sturgis East

Brynn Dowie, Sturgis West

Carmody Palmer, Sturgis West

Contact Courtney Jacobs at cjacobs@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @CJ_Journalist.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Times High School Girls Cross-Country All-Stars Team