Week #6 Summary
There was so much to talk about this week as many of us walked away in awe of the performances posted at the state relays. But to start the week #6 summary we are going to take a step back in time to week #5 and the Dartmouth Relays. The reason being, we certainly did not do justice to some of the fine performances that were posted in New Hampshire. Beyond the fantastic boys mile race we discussed last week, here are some other notable performances:
Nicole Genard (Sommerville) – 8.21 in the 55m hurdles. That is the #1 time in the state and the #8 time in the nation.
Brett Buskey (Blackstone-Millville) – Ran 6.55 in the semi-finals and then came back to win the meet in 6.58. In addition, he recently committed to Dartmouth and apparently looks very comfortable on that track. I'm sure the coaches are very happy.
Becky Stoyle (Pembroke) – 17’7.75” in the long jump. That is the #2 mark in the state.
Andover High School - Boys 4x800 team ran the #1 time in the state of 8:10.15. Clearly a legitimate mark if it can withstand the onslaught of fast times from the state relays the following weekend.
Sam Yoder (Bishop Feehan) – 6’8” in the high jump. That is the #1 mark in the state.
Maggie Mullins – 11:03.87 in the 2 mile. That time is #1 in the state and #3 in the nation.
Now, on to week #6. The big story of the week was the incredibly close team competitions at the Division I and Division III State Relays. You can rarely say that one event determined the outcome of any meet. There are always performances that could have been better, coaching decisions that could have squeezed out an extra point, or just some plain old luck along the way. But sometimes, one event can change everything. At the very least, it can shift momentum.
We never like to see the officials impact the outcome of any sporting event, and I’m sure the officials feel the same way. Unfortunately, a disqualification at the Division III State Relays changed the event and possibly the outcome of the meet. Bishop Feehan’s boys were disqualified in the 4x50y relay for jumping on the mats placed at the end of the infield. Although not a specific NFHS rule, the officials found it necessary to implement this policy for the safety of the athletes. Fair, and from what I have been told, consistently enforced at the Reggie Lewis Center. The real question is, were the coaches and athletes aware of the rule prior to the competition? The answer to that is debatable depending on what coach and what athlete you ask; but one thing is certain, we know about it now.
The end result…….Bishop Feehan 41 points, Randolph 42 points. As I said earlier, one event does not define a track meet and Randolph is a very worthy champion. They were also disqualified in the 4x50y relay (effectively nullifying the event for the team championship), but they were able to hold off Bishop Feehan and Hopkinton in the 4x400 for the win. They also won the 4x200 and placed second in the 4x50y hurdle relay. Add that to their second place finish in the shot put relay and third place finish in the long jump relay and you will find a team based in speed and power who earned a hard-fought win.
The Division I meet was just as exciting. New Bedford, with their powerful sprint and jumps crew, held off the young and talented Acton-Boxborough boys for a five point win. Along the way, New Bedford set a new class record in the long jump with three athletes over 20 feet. They only won 2 events (the long jump and the 4x50y relay), but consistent performances and several top 10 finishes sealed the deal.
On the girls’ side, Newton North won for the second straight year but they pressed to the bitter end by Andover. The meet was down to 3 points and a delay in the earlier flights of the long jump left it as the only event still to be contested. With the stands virtually empty, the Newton North long jump team quietly squeaked-out a second place finish to solidify the team championship. With only meet officials and a handful of parents still in attendance, the Newton North team enjoyed a well deserved victory lap.
Here are some other notable performances from the two meets:
Pembroke won the boys and girls Division III 4x800m relay. Do you expect anything less from such a great distance program?
4 boys went over 6’5” in the Division III high jump. The eventual winner was Jake Stelline from Triton who helped his team to a new meet record of 18’2.75” by jumping 6’6.75”.
The Bishop Feehan girls set a new Division III meet record in the DMR at 12:37.15. That is currently the #16 time in the nation.
The Franklin and Wachusett girls battled in the distance races. Wachusett won the Division I 4x800m in a state leading 9:36.96 with Franklin finishing second in 9:38.53. Those are the #11 and #13 times in the nation. But, Franklin got revenge in the DMR; winning the event in 12:31.85, just slightly ahead of Wachusett’s 12:38.42. Those times are the #10 and #20 times in the nation. A very impressive display considering that several of the girls ran in both events.
9 of the top 10 girls sprint medley times in the state came from the Division I meet. Newton North led the way with the #6 time in the nation of 4:15.53. At #9 in the nation is Newton South (4:16.28), and at #13 in the nation is Andover (4:16.99).
The New Bedford boys proved their 1:32.70 time in the 4x200 at the Old Colony League meet was no fluke. Two days later at the Division I State Relays they ran 1:32.81.
48 of the top 50 boys DMR times in the state were the result of the State Relays. Leading the way was Peabody at 10:36.66.
There were four throws over 50 feet in the boys shot put; Tresley Dupont (51’2.25”), Tim McMackin (50’7.75”), Don Caouette (52’9.25”) and Swardick Mayanja (53’9.75”). All four are now ranked in the state top 10.
League Meets
Some impressive depth was on display at the Bay State League meet with 7 MileSplit National Elite Performances being set.
1000 Meter Run
3:03.16 - Jillian Corcoran (Weymouth High School)
300 Meter Dash
42.88 - Cory Ryan (Norwood High School)
4x400 Meter Relay
4:10.95 - Newton North High School
600 Meter Dash
1:40.59 - Margo Gillis (Newton North High School)
1:42.53 - Meghan Bellerose (Newton North High School)
1000 Meter Run
2:37.82 - Justin Keefe (Newton North High School)
2:38.45 - Steve Sollowin (Weymouth High School)
In addition, Jessie Kaliski (Wellesley) is now #9 in the state 2 mile at 11:30.32, and Lauren Duggan (Norwood) is now #2 in the state shot put at 37’5”.
Boston Public Schools
Boston Latin Academy continues to dominate the league, recording a shut-out on the girls side and a 90 point win on the boys side against Charlestown.
Dual County League Meet
Emma Rice (Boston Latin) had a nice double, running 42.76 in the 300 and 7.48 in the 55m. Unfortunately for Emma, Rebecca Robinson (Arlington) is also in the DCL. She won both events, running 39.65 in the 300m (the #2 time in the nation) and 7.38 in the 55m.
The 600m was no joke either:
1:33.39 - Andrea Keklak (Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School)
1:38.39 - Marika Crowe (Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School)
1:38.48 - Kathy O'Keefe (Newton South High School)
1:40.77 - Madison Acton (Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School)
1:25.31 - Curt Owen (Acton-Boxboro High School)
And if that wasn’t enough, David Melly (Newton South) ran 4:25.37 in the mile.
Old Colony League Meet
We hear a lot about the New Bedford boys, but the New Bedford girls are also making a statement in the Old Colony League. They posted a 30 point win over Barnstable.
300 Meter Dash
43.20 - Kim Gabriele (Bridgewater Raynham Regional High School)
600 Meter Dash
1:42.00 - Courtney Neves (New Bedford High School)
4x200 Meter Relay
1:32.70 - New Bedford High School
600 Meter Dash
1:42.10 - Devyn Pryor (Dartmouth High School)
55 Meter Dash
6.55 - Phito Gondre (New Bedford High School)
PVIAC Meet #4
On the girls side, Agawam and Northampton and locked in a fierce battle atop of the Pioneer Division at 6-0. East Longmeadow is in sole possession of the Valley Division at 7-0. Cathedral (7-0) and Holyoke (6-0)remain undefeated on the boys side.
4x400 Meter Relay
4:10.65 - Northampton High School
600 Meter Dash
1:41.52 - Mia Toffoli (Northampton High School)
Tri County County
The girls 1000m is starting to heat up and the Boston College High boys team is starting to look very well-rounded as they defeat Brockton by 9 points.
1000 Meter Run
3:06.15 - Katie Powers (Cardinal Spellman)
3:07.61 - Faye Haley (Bishop Fenwick High School)
3:08.15 - Erica Gagnon (Archbishop Williams)
600 Meter Dash
1:26.00 - Mike Galasso (St. John's Prep)
High Jump
6-5 - Nick Staley (Boston College High School)
State Leaders-Girls
State Leaders - Boys
Week #6 Summary
There was so much to talk about this week as many of us walked away in awe of the performances posted at the state relays. But to start the week #6 summary we are going to take a step back in time to week #5 and the Dartmouth Relays. The reason being, we certainly did not do justice to some of the fine performances that were posted in New Hampshire. Beyond the fantastic boys mile race we discussed last week, here are some other notable performances:
Nicole Genard (Sommerville) – 8.21 in the 55m hurdles. That is the #1 time in the state and the #8 time in the nation.