Coach T’s Saugus Cross Country Program enjoyed a successful season

Special to The Advocate

A group of young Saugus athletes who don’t run for a school team – though they still love to run – concluded a successful Cross Country program this past fall. The program, which is designed for students in grades Kindergarten through 5 and Middle Schoolers, began in late August and finished on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) at the 11th Annual Massachusetts Elementary School Cross Country Championship at Gannon Golf Course, Lynn, followed by a pizza lunch at Prince Pizzeria in Saugus.

“The program officially wrapped up two days later when acknowledgements and recognitions were made,  celebrating the many achievements realized through goal setting and hard work throughout the three month journey,” said Coach Chris Tarantino, who has been running the program for several years.

“Over that time this dynamic group grew as runners as well as conscientious athletes and teammates. Along the way they enjoyed training games, team challenges, long runs, hill workouts, popsicle practice, and a fun run,” said Tarantino, who is also known by his runners as “Coach T.”

Here are the results from the Nov. 11 championship competition:

K-3 graders ran .66 miles. The 4-5 graders ran 1.17 miles. The top 10 runners medaled.

The boys in the K-3 grades included 34 runners. Here are the Saugus runners who competed in that category (some of them were winners):

• Santino Diciero–2nd grade–5th place
• Mark Haley–2nd grade–6th place
• Brody Melon–3rd grade–9th place
• Jeremy Martin–1st grade
• Jaxson Maddox–1st grade
• Benji Lopez–K
• Gabriel Lopez–2nd grade

The girls in the 4th and 5th grades included 88 runners. These are the Saugus runners who competed in that category:

• Gabby Sousa–5th grade
• Alicia Barrera–4th grade (unable to attend meet)

The boys in 4-5 grades included 100 runners. Here are the Saugus participants (some were winners):

• Luke Porrazzo–5th grade–1st place
• AJ Diciero–4th grade–10th place
• John McKanas–4th grade
• Xavier Marariego-Darnell–4th grade

“We also had five middle schoolers and had an in-house meet for three of them for culmination,” Tarantino said.

• Annalisa Ferrara–6th grade–national level track athlete participated in off-season training
• Ramon Ostalaza–6th grade
• Bailey Trabuco–7th grade
• Luis Sena–6th grade–successfully took part in the Junior Olympics Cross Country Program
• Naomi Tarantino–8th grade–alumni mentor, assistant coach