Weston Girls Meet: Lang, Keklak, and Hedderman for the Win


Racing against the speed of Ursuline Academy's Amy Piccolo at the Weston Twilight Meet, Lucy Lang wasn't about to turn their 800-meter race on Saturday night into a kicker's duel the last stretch.

So near the start of the final backstretch with still plenty of real estate left, the senior from Lexington took charge.

That strategy proved to be the right one in the end as Lang pulled off an important, early-season victory over her rival, edging the fast-charging Piccolo the last few meters en route to a first-place time of 2 minutes, 18.04 seconds. The Ursuline senior, the defending titlist, nearly steal the show at the finish with a lean that came just inches from a win and produced a runner-up clocking of 2:18.07

The two runners separated themselves from the pack by the gun lap and as Lang got past the 500m mark, she surged past Piccolo with her eyes focused on the win.

"I have so much respect for (Amy). She has always been so amazing. She's such a nice person as well," she said. "I kind of wanted to go for it. I know we have different race strategies. I just wanted to run my own race. Usually I kick over there."

Lang, who finished third to Piccolo in last year's event as well as the 600m at the indoor state meet this past February, was just a second from her PR from last year. She credits Piccolo, a multiple state champion, with pushing her to her limit.

"Just running next to her is so much fun because we have gotten to know each other more," she said. "She's great. I was just like, 'Let's just go through this together.' Even though we're opponents, we are good for each other sometimes."

Ariel Keklak took negative splits to the extreme in winning the the mile with a PB of 4:58.00. The Lincoln-Sudbury Regional junior was on pace to run a 5:10 mile at the midway point and then blazed the final 800m in 2:23.

"I was hoping that someone would take it out a little harder," said Keklak, owner of a 2:12, individually, for the two-lapper. "The plan was just get through the 800 with the pack and then pick it up from there."

The diminutive runner improved on her best by three seconds. Finishing second in the race was Concorde Carlisle sophomore Margot Ehrenthal in 5:07.0. Walpole junior Samantha Coletti was third in 5:08.70.

"I am actually really happy with (my time)," Keklak said. "We haven't had a ton of hard races, mostly dual meets. It was really nice to get out here and run with a bunch of girls."

Three runners dipped under the minute mark in the 400m dash with Ipswich junior Michaela Hedderman taking individual honors with a time of 58.92. Pembroke senior Caroline Lueng solidified the runner-up spot with a time of 59.23 and top seed, junior Sarah Edwards of Bellingham, was third in 59.87.

Hedderman admitted she was a little nervous before putting her feet in the blocks, but a false start by another competitor in the field lessened the anxiety.

"I think that was the best thing because I was more focused the second time when I got into the starter's position," she said. "Then the end I just felt really strong because usually I am cramping up the last 50 meters. I felt really strong, which is good."

Hedderman, an 11th place finisher at last year's All State Meet, was excited about breaking 59 seconds for the 400m after just the first few weeks of races.

"I have been training for this for like three years, trying to get to this point," she said. "I haven't run a 58 since like All States last year. I am just really happy that I am already at this point midway into the season."

Brianna Duncan, a junior from Cambridge-Rindge & Latin, was a triple winner for the night. Duncan was the first across the line in the 100m dash with a time of 12.39. She also captured the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 8.5 inches and the triple jump at 39-0.75 (US #18).

In the shot put, Pembroke senior Meghan Richard took the prize with a heave of 38-11.