Despite this weekend's oppressive heat, the tracks of Massachusetts were still chock full of athletes battling it out for fast times, big marks, and team titles. From Burlington HS to Westfield State, a lot was on the line at the numerous Divisional Championship meets and we want to make sure you didn't miss out on all the great results!
D1 Championship @ Dilboy Stadium Somerville,MA
GIRLS
Making the most of her final races in her HS career, Margie Cullen of Needham threw down yet another impressive Mile/2Mile double yesterday afternoon at Dilboy Stadium. Starting things off with the 2 Mile, Cullen got down to business right away and cruised solo to a new MA#1 time of 10:28.55. Despite being a distant second, Claire Markey of Chelmsford couldn't have been too disappointed with her performance that resulted in a new PR of 10:42.5. Also dipping under 11:00 was Rebecca Grusby of Newton South running 10:53.6 for 3rd and Abby Fisher of Billerica taking 4th in 10:58.1.
While most people would have been quite content with calling it a day after dropping a fast two mile, Margie Cullen is not one of those people and returned to the track around an hour after two mile for a quick four laps around the track. Once again, Cullen wasted little time and cruised to another victory with her time of 4:55.7. Fellow Needham runner, Sarah Armstrong took 2nd running 5:02.2.
Staying quite busy herself in Somerville yesterday was Brianna Duncan of Cambridge Rindge & Latin. Getting her afternoon started in the triple jump, Duncan got out to a very fine mark of 39'2" and won with ease. In the 100m, Brianna once again easily held off the competition to win in a respectable 12.32. Ending her day with a bang, the Cambridge senior won the long jump by equalling her outdoor lifetime best of 20'0". Sunday's outing was certainly a great test run for when Duncan goes up against the likes of Brooke-Lynn Williams in the 100m and Adja Sackor in the jumps at the All-State meet.
Stretching her legs in both 100H and 400H, Cynthia Aroke of Peabody is proving she is more than capable of going for double wins at the All-State meet next weekend. The 400H would be her first event of the afternoon and she looked quite smooth as she won in a new MA#1 time of 63.63. In the 100H, Aroke would never be challenged and she would also easily win in a respectable 15.03.
Keeping with tradition, the Lincoln Sudbury 4x800 quartet started of the relay portion of the meet with a bang. The Lady Warriors proved to be no match for the rest of the field and won in a new MA#1 time of 9:25.2. In pursuit of a fast time, LS also pulled Franklin to a 2nd place finish with a time of 9:30.5 and Gloucester took 3rd running 9:31.7.
While only winning one event over the course of Sunday's meet, the Andover Girls never backed and scraped for points in every event. In the end, they would be rack up 75.5 team points and were rewarded for their efforts with the D1 Team title. Newton North was not too far behind in 2nd with 70 points and Lexington took 3rd with 67 points.
BOYS
Well for most fans and coaches at yesterday's D1 meet, Marcelo Rocha of Peabody leading the 2 Mile was quite a familiar sight. He has been one of the top distance runners in the state for the past two years and has the PRs to back it up. Though we wouldn't be surprised if you were unfamiliar with the young man running alongside Rocha until the very end of yesterday's race. Perhaps even the young man himself, Tristan Shelgren of St. Johns is also having trouble putting yesterday's race in perspective. While it would turn out to be an amazing dual that Rocha narrowly won in a new PR of 9:10.2, Shelgren's performance certainly stole the show. Prior to yesterday's race, the St. John's sophomore only had a personal best of 9:31.4 from his victory at the Frosh/Soph Large School meet earlier this month. Then came yesterday's incredibly gusty performance and Shelgren woke up this morning with a very impressive new personal best of 9:10.4. His name will now definitely not be one to forget next week and in the seasons to come!
In the boy's mile, we would be treated to yet another thrilling finish down the homestretch. In the end, Zachary Manickas-Hill would prove to have that crucial final gear and out lean Esu Alemseged to win in 4:19.3 over Alemseged's 4:19.7. The half mile was also a crowded affair at the finish and George Papoulis of Haverhill was the one to come out on top with a new PR of 1:54.3. Will Ashenfelter of Needham was 2nd in 1:55.3 and Colin Grip of Acton-Boxbourgh took 3rd with his 1:55.5.
Keeping things exciting on the long jump runway, Anthony Denitto of Newton South stuck it to his cross town rival when he popped a huge PR and MA#1 mark of 24'5.25". Jared Prior of Newton South would have to settle for 2nd with his jump 22'8" and Carlos Ribiero of New Bedford was 3rd also with a mark of 22'8".
Mike Munroe certainly asserted some dominance in the throws circle, as took down some top notch throwers in both the shot put and discus with his marks of 56'11.5" and 152'5".
Becoming the first squad to dip under 8:00 this spring, Lexington boys took down the former state leaders from Cambridge won Sunday's 4x800 with a time of 7:56.5. Cambridge was runner-up with a time of 8:01.6 and Newton North finished third in 8:05.3
The Tigers of Newton North wouldn't have be to doing any number crunching post meet, as they easily locked up the D1 team title with 78 points. St. John's Prep was 2nd with 50 and Andover took 3rd with 48 points.
D2 Championship @ Norwell High School
BOYS
( More D2 Videos HERE )
Keeping with the team of the night, the Boy's 2 Mile at the D2 Championship was another spectacular show put on by Thomas Ratcliffe of Concord Carlisle. In the early stages, Ratcliffe had company from Ben Matejka of Wellesley and they both hit the first mile in 4:40. Though around two kilometers, Matejka would begin to peel off and it was all Ratcliffe for the remaining laps. Looking very comfortable alone, Thomas would hit the bell lap at 8:07 and immediately shoot off to come home in a very impressive MA#1 9:03.5. Matejka hung on to second and got himself a new PR of 9:28.2.
Making it a brotherly affair in the long sprints and mid-distance events, we would see fine some top notch performances from the Holts of Natick and D'Anieris of Wellesley. In the 400, Myles and Lucas led the charge with Myles winning 48.88 and Lucas finishing runner-up with a 50.38. The boys 800 was spearheaded by the efforts of Matt D'Anieri who took the win with near personal best time of 1:56.3. John Lara of Catholic Memorial was not too far behind finishing 2nd in 1:56.6. Moving up the mile, Thomas got the job done for the D'Anieri clan and won in a new PR of 4:18.7. Daniel Cosgrove of Masconomet was 2nd in 4:22.6 and Eli Decker of Concord took 3rd with his 4:23.0.
As the best pole vaulter in the state by a very wide margin, Erick Duffy of North Andover doesn't have to worry much about competition and really focus on soaring to new heights. That was the case this Sunday when Duffy began a new chapter of his career and cleared 16'0 for the first time to win the vault with his mark of 16'05".
Securing a large majority of their points from the superb efforts of their field event athletes, Reading boys took the D2 team with 68 points. Catholic Memorial was 2nd with 59 and Sharon finished 3rd with a total of 56 points.
GIRLS