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Haverhill's girls cross country team showed its back in good health as its top relay team repeated as champion at the Clipper Relays in Newburyport.

 After Beth Fullerton led off with a strong 2-mile leg, Julie Sominine took the Hillies to first place in her first competition since being injured in April and Christine McNaughton — also not at full strength in the spring — brought Haverhill to the finish line in 36:40.

Battling powerful Masconomet is always motivating, and after a tight loss last year, Pentucket had victory and revenge on its mind.

With Alana Poretta finishing a minute in front of the field, the Sachems won "a pretty big test" according to head coach Todd Ruland, beating the Chieftains, 24-32 as well as Wilmington, 15-45. Amy Babeu (20:48), Addie Desrosiers (20:55) and Carolyn Babeu (20:57) placed 3-4-5 to lock up the win.

North Reading fell in a tri-meet to Hamilton-Wenham, 15-50, and Triton, 25-34. Laura McBride was the top finisher for the Hornets (0-2), placing 11th overall in 20:59 over Triton's 3.1-mile course.

As usual, the Presentation of Mary-Notre Dame Academy cross country collision was a close one.

The Panthers found an unsung heroine to turn the tide as freshman Abiah Floyd splashed to a brilliant ninth place in her high school debut.

Led by freshman Kate Farrell, the Windham girls cross country team captured the school's first-ever varsity title by placing first in the Sanborn Invitational.

Isaac Fithian finished in a time of 17:18 (3.1 miles) to place first and help the Sanborn boys to a second place finish in its quad meet with Fall Mountain, White Mountain and Conant. Fall Mountain won the meet with 20 points while the Indians finished with 58.

Brooks, despite missing three of its top four runners with injuries, finiashed third in the New England Division 4  prep meet, finishing behind Middlesex and Holderness. Amy Couture of Windham, N.H., finished ninth to lead the Green and White, Yadira Flores was 22nd and Nicole Rosmarin was 23rd.

Winning championships is nothing new for Phillips Academy cross country.

The girls square captured their fourth in a row at the 5k course at Avon Old Farms, beating out Saint Paul and Phillips Exeter with ease, grabbinbg three of the top four places and four of the top eight. Abby Levene led the charge, clocking in at 18:22, a new course record, and Stephane Moroney's third place finish (19:07) and Berol Dewdney's fourth place run (19:10), sealed the deal. North Reading's Georgina Norton finished eighth with a time of 19:46.

The Phillips Academy girls cross country team defeated arch-rival Phillips Exeter 21-39 to complete its third straight undefeated regular season. Abby Levene led the way with a 17:52 course record over Phillips' Exeter's 5K course. Georgina Norton of North Reading was seventh in 19:42.

Pentucket's April O'Brien and Alanna Poretta tied for first (19:19). Amy Babeau placed fifth (20:31) for the Sachems (9-3). Triton's Colleen Loughlin (third, 19:41), Erin Loughlin (fourth, 19:51), and Sara Auwerda (sixth, 20:59) placed the Vikings (7-5).

Haverhill's Julie Solimine ran a course-record 17:59, shattering the old mark of 18:07 and giving the Hillies a 15-49 win over Central Catholic. Haverhill finished the regular season 10-0, capturing the MVC regular season title.

Pentucket's Alanna Poretta finished second (17:17) at North Reading High (2.85 miles). April O'Brien placed third (17:47) for the Sachems (8-3). Amy Babeau placed seventh (18:36).

The battle of unbeatens wasn't much of a duel, as North Andover's Kirsten Kasper ran away from Pentucket's Alanna Poretta in a tri-meet at North Reading.

Kasper ran a blistering 16:13 over the 2.9-mile course, more than a minute ahead of Poretta (17:17) as the Knights defeated the Sachems 25-31.

The Lawrence girls cross country team won its first meet in eight years, defeating Notre Dame 20-35 as part of a tri-meet with Billerica. Giselle Munoz ran a fine race to take the win, finishing sixth overall in 21:11 for 3.03 miles.

Pentucket's Alanna Poretta and April O'Brien settled for a vertal tie in a 17-44 win over Ipswich yesterday, with both running a comfortable 20:18 for 3.1 miles. It served as a warmup for Poretta's anticipated duel with North Andover's Kirsten Kasper.