New strategy working well for Rebels.

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Graduation hit the Notre Dame Academy girls' cross-country team pretty hard when it lost its top two harriers in Jane Clark and Emily Knox, so the Rebels simply changed their strategy this season to run in a pack in order to accumulate as many points as possible since they no longer have a true No. 1 runner.

So far that decision has paid off nicely. NDA is 7-0 after defeating Doherty and Burncoat in a home meet Friday.

"Honestly, I think we're really coping well with the two losses,'' said Rebels senior captain Cierra Ryan, a three-year varsity runner. "Our senior class is really strong. We concentrate on pack running. We're so close this year, and you can't really replace that. We're positive and supportive of each other, and that translates well. We're all really hard workers.''

Last October, the Rebels captured the Division 2 race at the Quabbin Invitational. A month later, they finished second to Tyngsboro at the Central Mass. Championship on Gardner Municipal Golf Course and 13th at All-States there a week laters.

Duplicating last season's success will be difficult without Knox and Clark, but seventh-ranked NDA is up for the challenge. "There are a few people trying to move up and fill their shoes,'' Rebels coach Catherine Salerno said.

Knox, who now runs at Stonehill College, was a T&G Super Team selection last year. Clark, who helped NDA capture a Central Mass. Division 2 title in indoor track and Class B and Central-Western Mass. D2 titles in outdoor track, runs at Stony Brook.

"I think we're looking pretty good,'' senior captain Lane Eisenman said. "We don't have anyone who's too far ahead (in times). I think we have a good top five. We don't have an obvious No. 1 runner, but everyone keeps pushing themselves to get better.''

"I love the team,'' said Eisenman, who is also a competitive dancer with a repertoire that includes jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary and modern. "I love being captain. It's really rewarding. We encourage each other.''

Eisenman plans to compete in indoor track for the first time and might try outdoor track, too.

"The chemistry between the girls seems to be great this year,'' said Salerno, whose team faces Shepherd Hill on Tuesday. "I started the year with five or six pretty good runners, and that's not bad for a school this size. They're goal-oriented.''

To gain big-meet experience, the Rebels will compete in the Bob McIntyre Twilight Meet next month in Falmouth and the Wrentham Invitational on Nov. 1.

"It'd be...

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