Editors Note: A clerical error in the girls Long Jump changed the team scores, and enabled Pembroke to tie for first place with Norton.
Stars? Planets?, Who know? Something from above was in perfect alignment over the past seven day. Whatever the reason, the Lancers' program scored itself some historic drama, fast times and most importantly, satisfying victories.
The week started with a historic dual-meet win for Norton's girls tracksters and it culminated with another shining performance at the Reggie Lewis Center.The Lancers have their high jumpers to thank for yesterday's Div. 4 Relays victory. The team of Kassidy Campbell, Kayla Sicard and Danielle Whitman took fourth with a mark of 4.29 meters, which was just enough to score 44 overall points to tie a very tough Pembroke squad .
Norton opened its week dealing Hopkinton its first dual-meet loss in nine years and 144 meets. Ironically, it was Campbell, Sicard and Whitman who clinched the win by outscoring Hopkinton in the high jump.
"The girls were so excited (against Hopkinton), but didn't know how close it would be," said girls' coach Lindsay Nastri. "We had a few second places today and I thought it was going to be a close meet. We tend to put a lot of pressure on them and they come through."
Bella Berardi had a huge meet for the Lancers in the long jump, distance medley and 4x200, all events that garnered big points for Norton.
The boys' squad win was just as impressive as Kent Taylor's crew outdistanced Wakefield 40-33. Northampton was a strong third with 27 points.
The Lancers' hurdle team captured its' third 4x50 title for the third time in four years. The lineup of Cam Stalters, Camden Cleathero, Elliot Ariola and Alex Carignan was an easy winner in 27.62. Norton took the 4x200, but was disqualified with a lane infraction that cost the Lancers 10 points. The team never panicked, however, with a win in the 4x50 dash (22.76) and second place in the long jump (17.06 meters) and third in the high jump (5.12 meters).
"It's really exciting," said Taylor. "I definitely think we have a top three or four team and a chance at the Div. 4 title."
Northampton made the trip from Western Mass well worth it with a pair of meet records. The lineup of Tim Foldy-Porto, Ben Hill, Liam Sullivan and Aidan Gilson set a new mark in the 4x800 with a time of 8:10.31. In the 4x400, Gilson, Arlo Siegel, Avery Nortonsmith and Nik Smith blazed a 3:26.28.
"We were really trying to run well," said Northampton coach Angus Fisher. "We didn't know the records, but we stacked those two events. Everything's going great. This is the middle of the training schedule so we'll be seeing big things from them."