CBA and Union Catholic Dominate Northeast Regional
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The Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional brought another round of exciting competition, with top performances highlighting both the boys' and girls' races. The stage is now set for nationals, with returning athletes poised to make their mark next season.
In the boys' competition, Joe Barrett of Christian Brothers Academy capped off an undefeated season with his seventh consecutive win, clocking 15:29.10. Barrett, who finished 7th at this meet last year, has demonstrated significant improvement and consistency throughout the season, emerging as one of the top runners in the region. Alex Fisher of Loomis Chaffee (15:43.80) and Jaxon Schoedel of Mohawk (15:45.80) finished in third after finishing 15th last year.
| PLACE | VIDEO | ATHLETE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Joe Barrett | 12 | Christian Brothers Academy | 15:29.10 | 1 | |
| 2 |  Alex Fisher | 11 | Loomis Chaffee | 15:43.80 | 2 | |
| 3 |  Jaxon Schoedel | 12 | Mohawk | 15:45.80 | ||
| 4 |  Marshall Vernon | 11 | La Salle Academy | 15:51.40 | 3 | |
| 5 | Ryan Schmitt | 12 | Christian Brothers Academy | 15:53.60 | 4 |
Christian Brothers Academy captured their third consecutive boys' team title with a commanding score of 39 points to stay undefeated as a team this fall. Barrett led the charge, with Ryan Schmitt finishing 4th in 15:53.60 and Luke Hnatt taking 6th in 15:59.70. Their remaining scorers crossed in 12th and 16th, giving them a 48-second 1-5 spread and a 15:58 average, the best of the day. State College finished runner-up with 142 points, their tight pack led by 8th and 11th-place finishes. Ridgefield High School rounded out the top three with 153 points, showing depth and a solid 59-second spread.
In the girls' race, Paige Sheppard of Union Catholic Reg. HS successfully defended her title, winning for the second consecutive year with a time of 18:05.90. Sheppard, who won the race as a freshman last year, extended her undefeated streak to eight races this season. Needham High School's Greta Hammer placed second in 18:22.30, while Union Catholic's Cayleigh Kaiser rounded out the top three in 18:30.50. All top five finishers-Sheppard, Hammer, Kaiser, Julia Kelly (Downingtown West), and Madeleine Lane (Hopkinton)-will return next season, setting up another thrilling battle in 2025.
| PLACE | VIDEO | ATHLETE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Paige Sheppard | 10 | Union Catholic Reg. HS | 18:05.90 | 1 | |
| 2 |  Greta Hammer | 11 | Needham High School | 18:22.30 | 2 | |
| 3 | Cayleigh Kaiser | 10 | Union Catholic Reg. HS | 18:30.50 | 3 | |
| 4 |  Julia Kelly | 9 | Downingtown West | 18:37.40 | 4 | |
| 5 |  Madeleine Lane | 10 | Hopkinton | 18:38.90 | 5 |
Union Catholic secured their second consecutive team title with 69 points, led by Sheppard and Kaiser's 1st and 3rd-place finishes, as well as Sophia Thompson in 9th. Their scorers tallied 1, 3, 9, 23, and 33 points finishes with a 1:51 spread and a 19:01 average. Champlain Valley Union High School finished second with 166 points, placing their top four scorers in the top 20 scorers and recording a 1:50 split. Cumberland took third with 176 points, with a strong individual finish in 10th and a 1:14 spread.
The Northeast Regional highlighted the talent and depth of the region, with many athletes and teams poised to compete on the national stage and return stronger next year.