Hopedale's Kronauer has well-timed recovery.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Steve Farley

COLUMN: CROSS-COUNTRY

Nicholas Kronauer hopes to give the Bromfield School boys' cross-country team a boost in the final weeks of the season, with the 2010 T&G all-star starting to shake off a calf strain that has hampered him since early September.

Kronauer, a senior, returned Thursday and helped unbeaten Bromfield defeat Littleton, and on Saturday, Kronauer finished 26th in the Division 2 race at the Catholic Memorial Invitational at Franklin Park, finishing the 3.1-mile course in 17:38.

"I didn't feel too good, but I was just testing (the calf) out," Kronauer said.

Kronauer, who co-captains the Trojans with Ellis Toll, is hoping to be 100 percent and to improve on last year's seventh-place finish at the Central Mass. Division 2 Championships. Kronauer finished 25th at the Division 2 state meet last year.

"There's so much competition," said Kronauer, who would like to run in college. "I have a decent chance at being in the top five this year (at the Central Mass. Championships). I'm just trying to get back into (running) and lead the team."

Kronauer said he looks up to a handful of former Bromfield standouts now excelling in college, including his sister, Kristina (Bryn Mawr); Emily Jones (Georgetown); and Sam Broward (Yale).

"When I was younger, I was being supported by the girls' team and the seniors on the boys' team," Kronauer said. "Living up to that status to win a state championship ... it's hard to compete with that, but I try. It's now like I have to do well to make a name for myself at this school."

Suzies look to finish strong

The undefeated Sutton girls are looking to three-peat as Dual Valley Conference and Division 2 Central Mass. champions.

"We know we have a lot of challenges in Division 2," said Bill Gillin, who has only 12 girls on the varsity roster. "The goal is to train well and race as minimally as we can. You never take anything for granted."

Gillin, 58, who ran for Holliston High and UMass and is in his 14th year as coach, adheres to the philosophy of his former UMass coach Ken O'Brien in the art of getting ready for big races.

"I adopted his philosophies, and that's the importance of proper training and less racing if you can," Gillen said. "Our focus is to train well and train...