Now in year No. 35 as Pinkerton Academy’s boys cross country coach, Mike Clark knows something about the greatest on the trail.
And he believes he has a truly special squad for 2026.
“This is a dream team!” said Clark. “And I don’t use that term often because it loses its meaning. I have called three of my teams, ‘Dream teams’ over the years – 1993 with Matt Downin, who would win a national title, 2015 with nationally-ranked Nico Sevilla, and this team. This is my third dream team. We have two guys that can win a New England title, and a third that could place in the top-10.”
This year’s group is led by three-sport Eagle-Tribune All-Star Jason Robie. Last week, the senior broke a 30-year-old record on the Astros’ home course with a 15:20 at the team’s alumni meet. He’s coming off a brilliant spring track season when he won the 1,600-meter at Meet of Champions (4:14.61) and took the 1,600 (4:20.42) and 3,200 (9:31.30) at Division Is, a feat he also accomplished in the winter. Last fall he was eighth at Meet of Champions (15:39.52) and fifth at Division Is (16:33.88), leading the Astros to the team title at both meets.
Right behind him is classmate and fellow Eagle-Tribune All-Star Oscar D’Amelio in the No. 2 spot, and at No. 3 is reigning Eagle-Tribune spring track MVP Joe Gustavson, who won the New England title in the 800-meter (area-record 1:52.23). Last fall, he was eighth at Division Is (16:51.50) and 12th at Meet of Champions (15:53.70). No. 4 is fellow senior Owen Boucher.
“We have eight runners that can excel in our top-seven,” said Clark. “When you have elite runners like Jason, Joe and Oscar, you don’t want to race them all the time. We have a lot of versatility to get them ready for championship season.”
