MHS Boys' Cross-Country Team Racing Toward Another Big Season [VIDEO]

's boys’ cross-country team finished 5-2 last season, with their two losses coming against league powerhouses Peabody and Gloucester.

After spending the summer training hard, this year's team is ready to improve on last season’s record and for another shot at the Tanners and the Fishermen.

Marblehead won't have to wait long for their shot at both Peabody and Gloucester - the teams are scheduled to clash during a tri-meet at Peabody High School on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 3:45 p.m.

Senior Noah Bitterman is one of the runners that coach Brian Heenan said he will be counting on this fall.

“We look very strong this year, we’ve got great potential,” Bitterman said. “We had two close losses against Peabody and Gloucester last year, and we’re excited about running against them in a few weeks.”

The Tanners finished 7-0 last season, and this year’s Marblehead team would like nothing better than to defeat Peabody on their home course later this month.

“They have a strong team, they've been tough since they entered the league a few years ago,” Heenan said. “Our guys are preparing for, and looking forward to, running against Peabody.”

The 2011 season kicks off Saturday morning for both the boys' and girls' cross country teams, when they travel to Newburyport to compete in the Newburyport Relays at Maudsley State Park.

“Those losses were close last year, and this year we’re looking to change that,” Bitterman said.

“Very excited to get the season going,” senior co-captain Pat Casey said. “We’re looking forward to running against Peabody and Gloucester, for sure, but we have some other meets we have to take care of first before we face them.”

Casey has been with the team since his freshman year, and is looking forward to topping the 17:20 time he ran against Danvers last season.

“We’ve got a really tight-knit group of guys, we’ve been training together for a long time and we’re really looking forward to this year,” senior co-captain Mike Harper said. “If we put in the work day to day, put in the miles this season, we’ll be successful.”

Coach Brian Heenan is entering his 11th season at the helm of the boys' squad and said he likes what he sees from the 25 runners he had come out for the team this fall.

“A lot of the guys have been here since they were freshman, and I believe they know how to win, they know how to prepare, this is a very strong senior group,” Heenan said. “We have that great senior class and a very strong supporting cast, I’m excited to get this season going.”

The teams first home meet is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, Sept. 13, against the Saugus Sachems.

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