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BRONX< NEW YORK – For the second consecutive year, Framingham’s Sam Burgess has qualified for the national cross-country high school championship race in California on December 10.
Burgess, who will attend Harvard University after he graduates from Framingham High, competed in the regional cross-country qualified today, November 26.
Burgess crossed the finish in second place to earn his spot in the national race.
His time at the Northeast EastBay Cross Country Championship at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, New York, was 15:21.3 minutes.
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The winner was Drew Griffith from Pennsylvania in 15:20.9 minutes.
“The weather was great today. I didn’t have a specific race strategy. I just wanted to capitalize wherever I was feeling good,” said Burgess to SOURCE.
“I ended up making a pretty hard move with about a kilometer to go and just got fight at the end,” said Burgess.
Four Massachusetts runners placed in the top 10. Burgess was second, Paul Bergeron from Westford Academy was third, Lynnfield’s Nathan Lopez was 6th, and Andover’s Tamrat Gavenas was 9th.
In the girls event, Ellie Shea of Belmont, Massachusetts, won the race in 17.10.7 minutes.
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Burgess finished 9th last year at regionals as a junior. His time was 15:29.6 minutes.
The top 10 runners qualify for the national meet.
“It awesome to be able to come out here in such good fitness given the setbacks I’ve had,” said Burgess to SOURCE. Burgess missed most of the Framingham High cross-country regular season due to an injury, but competed in the senior meet and then won the Bay State Conference Championship race.
He set a record in the Commonwealth in the post-season, and finished second at the all-state meet.
“I’m just super grateful to have such a good support team between my family, coaches, doctors, and friends. It wouldn’t be possible without all of them,” said Burgess this afternoon, November 26.
The Framingham High senior said his plan for this week is to “hit at least one pretty hard workout, and then start lowering volume and workload before nationals.”
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