NORTH READING - The Norwell girls trailed first-place Weston by 2 1/2 points with two events left at the MIAA Division 4 outdoor track and field championships Saturday.
But when senior Nikki Dempsey soared to second place in the long jump (17 feet 8 inches), it lifted Norwell to its second track title of the year. The Clippers finished with 69 points, Weston with 64 1/2.
“This is my last state meet and it is exciting to win both the indoor and outdoor state meets,’’ said Dempsey, who also won the 100-meter dash in 12.79 seconds. “I knew there was going to be a good competition and the pits at this track were really good and I just tried to focus on my technique.’’
Advertisement
The Clippers were paced by sophomore standout Danielle Griffin, who won the triple jump (36-9). She also earned a second-place finish, while breaking the meet record, in the 800 meters with a time of 2:15.58. Griffin also anchored the 4 by 100 team that sprinted to a third-place finish (51.05 seconds). Ursuline’s Meghan Grela, who won the 800 in 2:13.53, and Hamilton-Wenham’s Emily Senning, who placed third (2:15.58), also broke the meet record of 2:16.40.
“It was a fight all of the way,’’ said Norwell coach Chuck Martin. “It was won by everyone, the people that came first and the people that came in sixth, seventh, and eighth. We have had a great group of seniors this year and more of a complete team and winning this meet was harder than indoor.’’
Weston was paced by its senior tricaptains. Olivia Brackett won the 2-mile in 11:01.89, setting a school record. Julia Kee won the 400-meter dash in 57.39, also setting a school record, and Charlotte Walmsley finished first in the mile in 5:10.85.
Advertisement
Junior Ally Saccone of Old Rochester won the 400-meter hurdles in 64.18, breaking the meet record she set last year.
In the boys’ competition, Weston prevailed after its 4 by 400 team cruised to a first-place finish, enabling it to hold a 4-point lead over Newburyport entering the last event. Weston finished with 72 points, while Newburyport had 63.
“It came all the way down to the 400 relay and we gave it our all,’’ said Weston senior Spencer Shea, who also finished sixth in the long jump. “We have been waiting for this moment for four years.’’
The turning points for the Wildcats came when junior Alexis Mundo and Andrew Connolly finished second and third, respectively, in the javelin and senior Tim Grant took first in the triple jump (43 feet 4.25 inches), giving Weston 24 points and helping put it in first place entering the relay events.
The Wildcats were also powered by senior Matt Herzig’s scorching 9:35.99 first-place finish in the 2-mile.
“The 400 relay has been good all year and it was a fabulous way to end the season,’’ said Weston coach John Monz.