With Cerrutti (16 minutes, 15.44 seconds) and Assa (16:15.48) finishing side by side and Szalewicz’s (16:30.63) unexpected third place finish, the Wizards (65 points) clinched the team championship. At Willards Field, on the edge of Plymouth South (67).

“I was thinking the whole way through that we really needed to finish third, and I wanted to help the team as much as I could,” Szalewicz said. “Knowing that (Cerrutti and Assa) can (finish) first and second in almost every race we are in, it makes us all want to go out there and do our job.”

Marblehead’s win was among six races held Saturday on the notoriously challenging Devens course, which will also host the All-State championship next Saturday. The top seven teams in their respective races and the next two highest scoring teams were awarded “wild card” spots in the 23 heats.

For top runners like Cerrutti and Assa, their focus in the league was on achieving team goals rather than pushing individual times.

“We came into the race deciding we were going to kind of step back and save the race for next weekend,” Assa said. “But we were very happy to get a 1-2-3 finish and a great team win.”

The Division 2B men’s field was one of the most competitive and Falmouth junior Silas Gartner took the lead at the 1-mile mark and never looked back to claim the 11-second victory (15:42.91).

Gartner was pushed hard by Danvers senior William Conklin (15:53.05) and Marblehead senior Caleb Barnes (15:55.21), the only three runners to break 16 minutes in any race Saturday.

“I feel pretty confident on the course right now,” Gartner said. “It’s nice to get a win (at All-States) on the course where you’re looking forward to getting another win, so it definitely boosts my confidence going into the state meet.”

In the 2C boys, Groton-Dunstable posted a dominant team finish (55 points) on a winning effort from sophomore Greyson Duane (16:18.85) who narrowly edged Bishop Stang senior Lowell Copps (16:21.29).

Part 1 — BC High (57 points) took first place at Northfield Mountain, finishing 1-2-1 with junior Greg McGrath (15:50.23) and seniors John Wilson (16:01.47) and Shamus Larnard (16:02.32) finishing in the top three. took his turn. 3 for title 1A.

“We wanted to go one, two, three, that was our goal,” McGrath said. “… It was everything I could have wanted.”

Westford senior Jack Graffeo recovered from an Achilles injury to win the 1B race and set the fastest time of the day at 15 minutes, 41 seconds, while Concord-Carlisle (899) edged out Natick (102) in team honors.

“It was nice to come out here and race without pain,” Graffeo said. “I felt really comfortable pretty much the whole way.”

In 1C, Billerica freshman Mason Niles earned the first win of his career (16:19) and four runners finished in the top 20 with Reading (70 points).

“I knew the hills were going to be tough,” Niles said. “I tried to be a little harsh on them but it didn’t work

too much.”

Chapter 3 — Hamilton-Wenham’s longtime coach Steve Sawyer wanted his runners to take a measured approach to the heats at the Wrentham Development Center.

The conservative strategy did not stand in the way of the Generals, who captured the team championship (also girls) in the 3D races.

“The kids have been pointing at these races all season long,” Sawyer said. “They had a good summer training and trained hard all season. Every day we talk about what kids want to do; We come to a consensus and then they go out and do it.

“This is a big day for us.”

HW senior Ben Rich captured the individual title by completing the 5-kilometer course in 15:36.96, matching the Generals team total with four top-10 finishes and three top-five finishes.

Rich, who left Monument Mountain’s youngster Everett Pachecho (15:38.03) behind with the fastest time of the race, said, “I could finally catch up a little after the second kilometer.”

“I tried not to look back and kept pushing until I reached the end. “I was scared, and that made me feel confident that I gave it my all.”

Weston captured the 3A boys title with four top-20 finishes. Sophomore Aarav Mehta (16:33.04) and senior Ben Tavares (16:34.84) ​​paced the Wildcats after finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. Norwell’s young player John Doherty (16:11.91) won the men’s race.

Parker Charter took 3rd place after a dominant first-place finish by senior Henry Jacobsen (15:47.98) in the final race of the day.

MIAA Division 1A playoffs

on Northfield Mountain

Individual — 1. Gregory McGrath, BC High, 15:50.23; 2. John Wilson, BC High, 16:01.47; 3. Shamus Larnard, BC High, 16:02.32; 4. Lysander Duffield, Brookline, 16:05.73; 5.Chris Guerin, Shrewsbury, 16:05.78; 6. Thomas Flaig, Newton South, 16:20.49; 7. Altamo Aschkenasy, Brookline, 16:21.36; 8. Patrick Noonan, Lexington, 16:23.46; 9. Kyle Haskell, Andover, 16:27.75; 10.Trevor Stevens, Lexington, 16:32.8.

Team results — 1st BC High, 57; 2.Brookline, 97; 3. Andover, 126; 4. Lexington, 135; 5. Newton South, 135; 6. Lowell, 169; 7. Shrewsbury, 181.

MIAA Division 1B playoffs

on Northfield Mountain

Individual — 1. Jack Graffeo, Westford, 15:41.07; 2. John Bianchi, Natick, 16:01; 3.Ethan Sholk, Lincoln-Sudbury, 16:02.16; 4. Jared Rife, Belmont, 16:14.95; 5.Nick Walker, Winchester, 16:15.1; 6.Xavier May, Chelmsford, 16:35.57; 7. Callum Doyle, Natick, 16:35.79; 8. Marco Lombardo, Chelmsford, 16:37.84; 9. Declan Smith, Peabody, 16:40; 10.Samuel Keith, Xaverian, 16:40.17.

Team results — 1. Concord-Carlisle, 99; 2. Natick, 102; 3. North Andover, 147; 4.Arlington, 171; 5.Wellesley, 187; 6. Belmont, 187; 7. Boston Latin, 195.

MIAA Division 1C playoffs

on Northfield Mountain

Individual — 1. Mason Niles, Billerica, 16:19.36; 2.Chris Barbato, Reading, 16:24.54; 3. Michael Upton, Catholic Memorial, 16:30.12; 4. Landon Sarney, Oliver Ames, 16:32.84; 5. Graham Heinrich, Marshfield, 16:40.76; 6. Anthony Malakidis, North Attleborough, 16:44.64; 7. Sean Finnegan, Hopkinton, 16:46.19; 8. Joshua Toth, Milton, 16:46.81; 9.Tim Connolly, Reading, 16:48.51; 10. Sahil Gandhi, Billerica, 16:49.64.

Team results — 1st Reading, 70; 2.Oliver Ames, 106; 3. Billerica, 106; 4. Woburn, 154; 5. Hopkinton, 186; 6. Algonquin, 188; 7. Sharon, 202.

MIAA Division 2A playoffs

at Devens 5K Course

Individual — 1. Will Cerrutti, Marblehead, 16:15.44; 2. Nate Assa, Marblehead, 16:15.48; 3. Jacob Szalewicz, Marblehead, 16:30.63; 4.Luke Zahurak, Walpole, 16:33.2; 5. Noah Brilliant, Plymouth South, 16:38.16; 6. Bradon Spiess, Latin Academy, 16:44.41; 7. Anthony Lyons, Plymouth South, 16:48.22; 8. Seamus Canniff, Brockton, 16:48.33; 9. Tyler Amaral, Dartmouth, 16:54.59; 10.Noah Brooks, Shawsheen, 16:55.48.

Team results — 1. Marblehead, 65; 2. Plymouth North, 67; 3. Boston Latin, 77; 4.Walpole, 86; 5. Masconomet, 167; 6.Duxbury, 177; 7.Dartmouth, 198.

MIAA Division 2B playoffs

at Devens 5K Course

Individual — 1. Silas Gartner, Falmouth, 15:42.91; 2. Will Conklin, Danvers, 15:53.05; 3. Caleb Barnes, Melrose, 15:55.21; 4.Joseph Keroack, Ludlow, 16:04.54; 5. Luke Chisum, Wayland, 16:10.95; 6.JJ Rooney, Danvers, 16:17.82; 7. Atley Phinney, Middleborough, 16:35.05; 8.Will Jackson, Wayland, 16:35.91; 9. Michael Mohoric, Newburyport, 16:37.8; 10. Nate Palmieri, Pembroke, 16:39.35.

Team results — 1. Longmeadow, 95; 2. Wakefield, 112; 3. Amherst-Pelham, 148; 4. Wayland, 149; 5.Melrose, 158; 6. Pembroke, 165; 7.Ashland, 200.

MIAA Division 2C playoffs

at Devens 5K Course

Individual — 1. Greyson Duane, Groton-Dunstable, 16:18.85; 2. Lowell Copps, Bishop Stang, 16:21.29; 3. Andrew Kosiba, Groton-Dunstable, 16:46.19; 4. Sean Parham, Norton, 16:53.35; 5. Paul Steyer, Martha’s Vineyard, 16:56.78; 6. Jack Almeda, Dover-Sherborn, 17:03.63; 7. Shane Unger, Medfield, 17:05.94; 8. Evan Solger, Groton-Dunstable, 17:09; 9. Townsend Roussin, Dedham, 17:14.64; 10. Nicholas Antonellis, Archbishop Williams, 17:16.4.

Team results — 1. Groton-Dunstable, 52; 2. Dover-Sherborn, 102; 3.Medfield, 112; 4. Wilmington, 183; 5. Bishop Stang, 192; 6.Whitinsville Christian, 203; 7. Archbishop Williams, 221.

MIAA Division 3A playoffs

at Wrentham Developmental Center

Individual — 1. John Doherty, Norwell, 16:11.91; 2. Cassidy McBee, Triton, 16:22.59; 3. Andrew Klinedinst, Hudson, 16:26.68; 4. Henry Buckley-Jones, Rivers, 16:32.83; 5. Aarav Mehta, Weston, 16:33.04; 6.Ben Tavares, Weston, 16:34.84; 7. Anthony Colella, Swampscott, 16:39.4; 8. Joshua Edelman, Norwell, 16:40.6; 9.Ben Levesque, East Bridgewater, 16:45.11; 10. Seamus Tully, Great Lowell, 16:52.42.

Team results — 1. Weston, 70; 2. Lowell the Great, 82; 3. Swampscott, 156; 4.Hudson, 165; 5. Norwell, 185; 6. Triton, 197; 7.Belchertown, 203.

MIAA Division 3B playoffs

at Wrentham Developmental Center

Individual — 1. Ben Rich, Hamilton-Wenham, 15:36.96; 2. Everett Pacheco, Monument Mtn., 15:38.03; 3. Evan Hedlund, Frontier, 15:56.99; 4.James Regan, Hamilton-Wenham, 16:04.54; 5.Cole Regan, Hamilton-Wenham, 16:15.87; 6.Luke Howard, Frontier, 16:19.3; 7.Sokari Jenkins, Gardner, 16:20.48; 8. Josiah Fugate, Amesbury, 16:38.46; 9.Oscar Schiff, Hampshire, 16:39.58; 10.Seth Glidden, Hamilton-Wenham, 16:46.07.

Team results — 1. Hamilton-Wenham, 35; 2. Hampshire, 101; 3. Border, 117; 4. Littleton, 192; 5.Wahconah, 193; 6.Uxbridge, 266; 7. Southwick, 271.

MIAA Division 3C playoffs

at Wrentham Developmental Center

Individual — 1. Henry Jacobsen, Parker Charter, 15:47.98; 2. Nathaniel Henshaw, Parker Charter, 15:58.63; 3. Ben McWaters, Bromfield, 16:13.55; 4. Rafa Mello-Bartels, Mount Greylock, 16:15.23; 5. Danny Garrison, Parker Charter, 16:22.33; 6. Cypress Lance, Parker Charter, 16:24.33; 7. Benjamin Harwood, Lenox, 16:26.29; 8. Sam Tudryn, Innovation Academy, 16:28.42; 9. Harrison Binnick, Bromfield, 16:29.77; 10.Jake Leone, Ayer Shirley, 16:29.95.

Team results — 1. Parker Charter, 25; 2. Bromfield, 82; 3. Mount Greylock, 92; 4. Lenox, 139; 5. Hopedale, 152; 6. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion, 211; 7.Maynard, 244.

Matty Wassserman reported from Devens, Brad Joyal reported from Wrentham and Mike Maynard reported from NorthfielD.

Matty Wasserman can be reached at [email protected]. follow him @Matty_Wasserman.