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Walker’s Runner Receives All-League Honors

Madi Knapp '21 running

November 11, 2019

In just her second season running for Walker’s varsity cross country team, Madi Knapp ’21 has made her mark in the school’s program history. Madi dominated leaderboards throughout the fall regularly placing in the top finishers at many meets. Madi recently raced to a seventh place finish at Avon Old Farms in the Founders League Championship with a time of 20:33, just seconds off of her fastest time she hit last year. Her top 15 finish in the varsity race earned her All-League Honors for the second season in a row.

At the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Championship race, Madi placed fifth in a field of 148 runners with a time of 19:59, a season and career best. The course at White Memorial in Litchfield, CT was new terrain for the team. Madi helped lead her team to a twelfth place finish among 20 teams. Another impressive finish came from co-captain, Emmy Vitali ’20 who finished second for the team with a time of 23:06. Hailey Nims ’22, Melah Lazarus ’23 and Kyleigh Holt ’20 were not far behind with times of 23:10, 23:17 and 23:36, respectively.

Head Coach Sarah Edson was pleased with Madi’s performance, saying, “The tape on her knee at each practice and race is a visual reminder of what she has bounced back from and what she is still working through. Her resilience, determination, conscientiousness and diligence are an invaluable example for our whole team,” said Edson. “Finally, her humility and genuine desire for others’ success combine to make her an outstanding co-captain.”

For finishing in the Top 20 varsity race at the championship, Madi has again been named as a NEPSAC All-Star and has qualified to run in the All-Star meet on November 16 at St. Luke’s in Massachusetts.