Laakso second in state
Fitchburg runner's string of firsts ends at Northfield
By Rick Eggleston


NORTHFIELD -- Fortitudine Vincimus -- "Through endurance, we conquer."

Christine Laakso knew it was going to take a fortitudinous
effort on her part if she was going to run away with the
girsl's Division 1 MIAA all state cross country championship
Saturday at a sunny but cold Northfield Mountain Recreation
and Environmental Center.

After all, it -- "Fortitudine Vincimus" -- was spelled out
right there in front of her, emblazoned in bold, red
lettering on the backside of T-shirts being worn by a
half-dozen or so of Laakso's proud teammates who made the
45-minute trip west to Northfield to cheer the speedy senior
on to a state title.

They wouldn't be disappointed, as Laakso took her teams's
motto to heart to endure and conquer all but one running
warrior in Lincoln-Sudbury's Lindsay Donalson, en route to an
amazing second place finish.  Sporting a cornrow hairdo --
the result of friend's suggestion to "do something crazy for
the state meet" -- Laakso covered the demanding and hilly
3.1 mile course in 19 minutes,11 seconds, just 25 seconds
behind Donaldson (18:46), who captured her first state
title.

"It's great, I'm real happy I went out for this," said
Laakso, who, like Donaldson, decided to cash in on her
previous three years wroth of successful indoor and outdoor
track experience to run cross country for the first time
this season.  "I went out for this sport just wanting to
give it a shot, and I'm happy that I did."

But nobody looked more happy Saturday than Laakso's coach,
Mark Ambrose, who was visibly pleased to see "the best
runner in Fitchburg history" cross the finish line.

"She's the best, she really is," beamed Ambrose, who
joyfully jumped up and down in excitement and congratulated
Laakso with a hug after the race.  "She's an incredible
runner -- unbelievable."

According to Ambrose, Laakso's fantastic finish was indeed
he best at states by an FHS cross country runner, male or
female.  In 1961, he said, Dennis LeBlanc logged a third
place effort.

"This wasn't a case of coming up here and just being happy
to be here.  We had a plan," Ambrose said. "(Christine) came
up here twice this week to study the course, run it and get
ready."

The plan nearly worked to perfection, as a fast start
through the first mile kept Laakso close on Donaldson's
heels.

"We went down the first hill, and the pace slowed at the
base.  It was slower than I expected, but then I just
started to push it a little," recalled Laakkso.  "I stayed
on Linday for awhile, and then she started to pull away
before the two-mile mark."

 It was there Donaldson rounded the bend and descended a
small hill to open up a solid 3-0 yard lead on Laakso.
Unfazed, Laakso pressed on.

"There wasn't a point in the race where I didn't think I'd
be able to catch her," Laakso said.  "There was definitely
less pressure on me."

In fact , it was Laakso -- this season's Quabbin
Invitational, Mid-WAch A and just last week, Central
Mass. champion -- who may have caought the rest of the
Division I field by surprise.  This after she faced
Donaldson earlier in the season at the state coaches
invitational, but suffered an injury to finish 10th.

According to Ambrosse, it was the turning point of the
season for Laadso, who later this week will sign a national
letter-of-intent to attend Boston Numversity next fall.

"After what happened to her at the invitational, she was
dominant the second half of the season," he said. "What she
did today wasn't a fluke.  She proved today that she's an
elite runner in teh state wh knows what to do."

And had a great season doing it.

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