The Malden High School girls cross country team finished the season strong, dominating the Greater Boston League Championship.
The Golden Tornados took three of the top four spots en route to a 28-40 triumph over second-place Cambridge Rindge and Latin in the championship competition.
With two of Malden’s top five runners sidelined, the girls were in need of a total team effort, according to a school release. Leading the effort over Cambridge’s 3.1 mile course and finishing second, third, and fourth overall were senior captain Haley Dowdie (20:57), sophomore Victoria Hannafin (20:58), and senior captain Lauren Benoit (20:59).
Sophomore Helen Chin (22:47) was seventh in the scoring and freshman Deborah Kibazo (23:36) was 12th to round out the top five for the Golden Tornados.
Freshman Gillian Willcox (23:48) scored 13th and junior Cristina DiScipio (24:05) 15th. Freshmen Leticia De Oliveira (24:24) and Wentana Ghile (24:45) also contributed to what was a strong performance in the varsity race by Malden’s promising freshman group.
Following the GBL meet, the Golden Tornado girls went on to a respectable 12th place showing at the Division 1 championship.
Haley Dowdie was 43rd in 20:35, Lauren Benoit was 48th in 20:59, Victoria Hannafin was 51st in 21:09, junior Jacqueline Bouley was 65th in 21:39, and junior Joviana Morin was 82nd in 22:36. Other MHS representatives were Deborah Kibazo (24:09) and Helen Chin (24:24).
The Golden Tornadoes were strong all season, notching their second straight season of going undefeated in the Greater Boston League.