The Qualters Middle School (QMS) Cross Country Team finished a successful inaugural season. (Photo Courtesy Mansfield Public Schools) 
From left: Student-athletes Jay Bartlett, Amelia Burgess and Maeve Fitts. (Photo Courtesy Mansfield Public Schools) 
Nikita Cherapukha (Left) secured an impressive eighth-place finish, earning a coveted top 15 medal out of 228 male student-athletes. Amelia Burgess (Right) also excelled, clinching a top 15 medal with a 13th-place finish among 170 female student-athletes. (Photo Courtesy Mansfield Public Schools) 
From left: 8th-grade QMS Cross Country members Caleb Donovan, Nikita Cherapukha, Declan Keenan, Gia Buckley, Maria Dodd and Liv Vargas (Photo Courtesy Mansfield Public Schools)
MANSFIELD — Superintendent Teresa Murphy and Principal Dave McGovern are pleased to share that the Qualters Middle School (QMS) Cross Country Team finished a successful inaugural season.
“I am thrilled that we were able to start an Interscholastic Cross Country program at QMS, said Principal McGovern. “At QMS, we know that it is critical we connect our students to our school community beyond the classroom. Through this program, our students learned perseverance, the benefit of hard work, and how you can improve each day.”
Under the direction of coaches Karen Carpentier, Tim Carpentier, Nora McNeilly and Natalie Visconti, the 2023 QMS Cross Country Team wrapped up a successful first season, participating in a total of four meets including at Norton, King Philip, Sharon and Canton.
Throughout the season the QMS Cross Country Team, composed of 37 male and female student-athletes practiced and participated in school meets three school days per week. The team ultimately achieved victories in both of its final two meets of the season.
Additionally, several student-athletes had the opportunity to compete in the Massachusetts Middle School state meet on Saturday, Nov. 4 in Devens, MA. At the state meet, held at Willard Field, Nikita Cherapukha secured an impressive eighth-place finish, earning a coveted top 15 medal out of 228 male student-athletes. Seventh-grade runner Amelia Burgess also excelled, clinching a top 15 medal with a 13th-place finish among 170 female student-athletes.
“We believe that cross country offers more to our students than just racing,” the coaches stated. “It teaches them perseverance, teamwork and the joy of achieving personal goals. It was truly rewarding to see our athletes building connections with other students from different grades and cheering on their peers at each of the meets.”
Added Superintendent Murphy, “We would also like to recognize the tremendous support that the team received from the parents/guardians of our student-athletes this season. We received a great deal of positive feedback about the program and look forward to offering Cross Country as a fall sport to our students for years to come and hopefully host a meet or two next season.”
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