Unheralded Margot Appleton Makes Surprising Run At Boston Mayor's Cup

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Margot Appleton, a junior at Portsmouth Abbey School in Rhode Island, made an 83-second improvement on the 5-kilometer course at Franklin Park and finished second Saturday in the women's championsip race at the Boston Mayor's Cup. 

Behind her, in fourth place, was 2018 Foot Locker national champion Sydney Masciarelli. 

Appleton competes as a member of the Emerging Elites club and has clearly made great improvements since finishing 21st in the Foot Locker Northeast Championship last year – a race Masciarelli won. 

Appleton ran 17:14 and finished one second behind Brianna Ilarda, who placed 10th in the NCAA Division 1 3,000-meter steeplechase final in June for Providence. 

Former New Balance pro Sarah Brown was third in 17:16 and Masciarelli was timed in 17:18. 

The course appeared muddier than 2018, when Masciarelli finished fourth in 17:04.

Portsmouth Abbey School is a Benedictine boarding and day school on a sprawling campus near the Narragansett Bay. 

As of Oct. 16, Appleton's 5,000-meter PR was 18:22. Three days later, the Abbey School hosted Marianapolis Prep, but Masciarelli did not run. Appleton led her team to a victory.