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MANCHESTER — Led by sophomore Luke Brennan, Pinkerton's boys had its best overall race of the season to place third in the Division 1 state meet at Derryfield Park Saturday.

Pinkerton's boys cross country team put it all together to take top honors at the Catholic Memorial Invitational.

The Astros placed first with just 39 points, comfortably ahead of runner-up Lexington. Central Catholic placed fourth and Methuen was fifth.

Xavier Metivier had a senior day to remember, finishing Methuen's 2.77-mile track in a course-record 15:08 to lead his Rangers to a tri-meet win over Haverhill and Tewksbury. Teammate Freddy Coleman was not too far behind, finishing second in 15:16.

Seniors James Pothier (1st), Luke Ryan (4th), Cormac Crippen (6th) and Duncan Louis (15th) ran big races to help Central Catholic (8-2) wrap up its regular season with a 24-31 win over Chelmsford.

Jack Bicksler led the way in first with a 14:31 for 2.7 miles at Harold Parker as North Andover defeated Billerica to clinch the MVC small division title. Jett Stad was fourth for the Knights (9-1) and Segev Moritz was fifth.

Jack Bicksler finished seventh overall, running 13:22.5 for 2.5 miles to lead North Andover to an impressive second-place finish in the varsity B race at the Manhattan Invitational. Jett Stad was 18th for the Knights in the 29-team field.

Rohan Rohai had the race of his life Saturday and the Windham boys cross country team followed his lead by winning the Pelham Invitational with an impressive 59 points.

Rai finished first on the 5K course with a personal-best time of 15:47.07, five second ahead of Jared Khalil, Sanborn's super freshman. Junior Jackson Mazejka of Salem was third.

Whittier sophomore Jack Venturi won going away but Greater Lawrence rolled past the Wildcats and Shawsheen. Wander Languasco and Marcos Olivieri went 2-3 overall for the Reggies.

Runner-up Lenny Veguilla was in fine form in return from hamstring injury and Colby Winn shined as North Andover swept Haverhill and Dracut.

In a intra-city battle, Lawrence High edged Greater Lawrence in both boys (26-29) and girls cross country (29-30). Cristian Bueno had a fine 3-mile time of 16:41 to lead the boys to victory.

James Pothier was the first runner to cross the finish line at the 2.9-mile Winnekinni course in 15:51 to lead the Central Catholic boys track team to a 28-29 win over Billerica. The Raiders also beat Haverhill in the tri-meet (17-40), as Matt Giannasca came in third overall in 15:58.

NORTHWOOD — Pinkerton's boys showed that they're starting to round into form Saturday, finishing a strong third at the Black Bear Invitational at Coe-Brown.

Sophomore Luke Brennan led the Astros, finishing seventh overall in 16:38, and junior Stephen Connelly was 11th with Zach Plaza checking in at 22nd. Host Coe-Brown came in first with  Phillips Exeter taking second.

North Andover senior Jeff Stad ran perhaps the best race of his career to finish third overall with a 16:43 time for 5K, beating Central's James Pothier and Methuen's Xavier Metivier, in a quad-meet at Lowell. The Knights won two of three meets.

Haverhill junior Collin Daugherty ran the race of his life to finish first in a tri-meet with Andover and Lawrence. Andover displayed a good pack to win both of its meets.