Swampscott High School cross country coach WF Newhall says it usually takes about six weeks of training before student-athletes begin to see a significant leap in performance.

The Big Blue boys and girls teams are right at that six-week mark into the 2026 season, and Newhall said he has started to notice the bump.

Swampscott hosted Masconomet High School for a meet on Wednesday. The two teams ran a course that featured hills, rocks, roots and running through the woods.

The girls kept their perfect record, improving to 4-0 this season, while the boys suffered defeat, dropping to 2-2 in the process.

“I was very happy with the teams’ performances tonight,” said Newhall. “Could I be happier? Sure. You’d like to win both but splitting isn’t a bad thing. Masco is a tough opponent.”

On the girls side, Fiona Smith, Annabelle Averett and Kathleen Nohelty were the first three Big Blue athletes to cross the finish line. For the boys, Atticus Jakious, Anthony Colella and Lincoln Geaney led the way.

Newhall said matches throughout the season are stepping stones as the teams prepare for the NEC all-conference meet, the divisional state meet and the all-state meet later in the season.

“I think we’re right where we need to be,” said Newhall. “I think we’ve had that first bump in improvement and maybe we get one more bump at the very end of the season.”

One of the keys to the Big Blue’s success so far this season is extra training that some athletes put in during the summer off-season.

“A couple of the girls put in some good training this summer,” said Newhall. “Some of their fitness is coming up, and some of those girls have gone to another level. Same with some of the boys. They’ve improved a bit over the summer, so now they are in a better place.”

Student-athletes made their way Wednesday through the three main parts of Swampscott’s home course, nicknamed the gulley, the wilderness and Goat’s Hill.

The race starts and finishes at the gulley, a long stretch of skinny trail that goes up and downhill.

Newhall said knowledge of the home course proves to be an advantage.

“Knowing strategically where to make our moves on certain parts of the course is important,” said Newhall. “There are good coaches in the NEC. They’ve been here before and they know that, but we may know it a little bit better.”

The teams will next take on the course next Wednesday against Winthrop High School at 4:30 p.m.