Lenox's Jourdain, Lee's Hurley Earn Weekly Honor

Speed is the common denominator in this week’s Athlete of the Week selections.

 

Lee High wideout Michael Hurley had the opposition chasing him all night on Friday, and Lenox’s Emma Jourdain has shown opponents her back throughout the cross country season.

 

Hurley gained 144 yards from scrimmage and scored three times in a 40-0 win over Drury that put the Wildcats over .500 at 3-2. Lee is 2-0 and in first place in the Intercounty West Division.

 

Hurley and his coach were brimming with praise for one another on Friday night.

 

“Coach is so great at creating great plays,” Hurley said. “He makes them up in practice, and he leaves it to us to execute them. … We go over situations where we’ve got to make big plays. All we have to do is execute. That’s what he counts on from us.”

 

“He’s a playmaker,” Lee coach Keith Thomson said of Hurley. “He’s a leader on the team. And we’re just trying to find any way we can to get the football in his hands. Usually, when he has it, good things will happen.”

 

Lenox Memorial senior Jourdain has consistently been the runner to beat on the Berkshire County cross country circuit, and no one has beaten her yet.

 

Jourdain has placed first in all five races this fall, most recently on her home course, where she finished a little more than a minute ahead of teammate Maggie Sorrentino.

 

Jourdain has been pushed on three occasions by Mount Greylock sophomore Margo Smith, but each time Jourdain has held her off; the narrowest margin came in the season opener at Monument Mountain, where Jourdain won by eight seconds.

 

The Millionaires' biggest meets are still ahead of them, starting with the Berkshire County Individual Championships later this month and the Western Mass Championships next month in Westfield.

 

Jourdain figures to be among the favorites at both. Last year at Western Mass as a junior, she finished second behind then senior Taylor Blow of Hampshire. In fact, three of the top five runners at last year's sectional have graduated; only Jourdain and Sorrentino, who was fourth at Stanley Park last November, are back for another go.

 

iBerkshires.com's Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Bedard Bros. Auto Sales of Cheshire.