Every race has as someone who leads the pack. Historically speaking, Ron Lombardi's leading the NE-10 pack has stood the test of time.
It seemed Lombardi was destined for greatness at Springfield having earned All-Western Mass honors at his hometown Palmer High team in 1979, 1980, and 1981 while also earning accolades as a member of the All-Western Mass track team in 1982.
He made a lasting impact at Springfield where he was a three-year captain of the cross country program as well as both the indoor and outdoor track teams.
A three-time All Conference selection, Lombardi was the first back-to-back individual champion in conference history, winning the title in 1983 and 1984 as a sophomore and junior.
His most memorable outing remains the 1983 championship held locally at Forest Park, where he broke the 5-mile course record by a full 23 seconds.