NEWTON — Carla Forbes dreads the date of July 1, and she has no one to blame for it but herself. The first day of July marks the first time college coaches can legally make contact with student-athletes. Given what Forbes has done in track during her first three years at Newton North, it’s a given that the phone line will be hopping. A three-time All-State champion in the long jump during the indoor season, Forbes enters this weekend’s All-State meet at Fitchburg State as the clear-cut favorite to capture both the triple jump and long jump. At the Division 1 state meet last weekend, Forbes broke her own state record in the triple jump (41-2) and shattered former Medford great Arantxa King’s record in the long jump (19-31⁄2).    

Sunday May 27, 2012 WESTFIELD -- The first thing Berkshire County track and field enthusiasts noticed about Saturdays Western Massachusetts individual meet was the weather -- with a high temperature approaching 90 degrees, it was easily the hottest of the season. (via Berkshireeagle.com)

  The "Exchange Zone" is back again, as two of the most knowledgeable Track Coaches around debate "12 " of the hottest topics in Massachusetts Track and Field.  The two Coaches with the gift of gab preview this weekends All State meet. They recap some of last weeks performances, along with several other "Hot" topics.  Coaches, Parents, and athletes please keep in mind this is all in good fun.  If the dynamic duo underestimates your team or athletes please don't heckle, send threatening messages, or physically assault them in anyway.  These two coaches did a phenomenal job at keeping balanced views and gave great insight to this weekends Championship meet. It's all positive exposure for our sport and the athletes.  Another great job by Coach Miller,  Coach Z, and Coach Rooney  !

Milesplitmass has created the Top 50 list per event...please let us know if there is any corrections.

Follow the Massachusetts Track and Field Alumni in our weekly Alumni report. Many of these Athletes move on and compete, and we at Milesplitmass want to make sure you have a weekly update on their performances.

FITCHBURG —  When it came to the girls, deuces were wild at the Central Mass. Track and Field Championships.  Westboro's Naloti Palma, Oxford's Emily Dawidczyk, and Wachusett Regional's Amy Collins and Laura Williamson each overcame stiff competition and stifling humidity to win two individual events yesterday at Fitchburg State University.  Collins repeated as high jump champion and won the 400-meter dash, while Williamson captured the 800 for the third time in four years and the triple jump. The two then teamed with Meaghan Dowd and Jasmine Cook to win the 1,600 relay and put the finishing touch on the Mountaineers' second straight team title.     (via )

Get the latest Massachusetts high school sports news, rankings, schedules, stats, scores, results & athletes info for high school football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and more at MassLive.com. (http://highschoolsports.masslive.com/)

Dominance. How can one school with different coaches produce two dominating performances on the same day at the same meet? Perhaps it was a fluke coincidence. Perhaps it was something in the water. Or, perhaps it's the tradition of track and field at a school with three Hall of Fame Coaches and dozens of state meet trophies in the trophy case. That school is Newton North. And to the surprise of virtually nobody at Durfee High School on Sunday, that double was performed by Jim Blackburn's Tigers (64) and Joe Tranchita's Lady Tigers (95.5). Acton-Boxboro, meanwhile, took runner-up in both meets (55 for the boys, 62 the girls), with Lincoln-Sudbury (45 boys, 56 girls) taking 3rd in both as well.

Eventually, one of these days it has to happen. Newton North’s Carla Forbes will come up short in a track meet.   Forbes showed yesterday at the MIAA Div. 1 Track & Field Championships that it’s not bound to happen any time soon. The Tiger standout erased the meet records in both the triple jump (41-2) and the long jump (19-3-½) on the way to leading Newton North to its second consecutive team title. Joe Tranchita’s crew was nothing short of devastating, putting up a whopping 95.5 points to leave runner-up Acton-Boxboro a distant second with 62 points.   With the medals from the Div. 1 meet collected, Forbes can now concentrate on state meet and the nationals on June 9, where she’ll be looking to add the outdoor title in the triple jump after capturing the indoor title in March.“I definitely think I’m ahead of last year experience wise,” said Forbes. “Our training has been just as consistent as last year. It’s (nationals) going to be a little scary, a little more nerve racking. I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot people who weren’t there (at indoor nationals).

WHITMAN — It’s a common cliche in many sports: Speed kills. But at yesterday’s Division 2 championship, both the Central Catholic boys and girls teams used their depth to come away with the hard-earned hardware. While Mansfield’s Josh Lampron had the best individual day, setting meet records in both the mile and 800 meters, it was the Red Raiders who got the important points in nearly every event to bring home the team titles.The win was the boys’ first since back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010, while the girls gained their first since 2008, ending Mansfield’s three-year reign atop the division.“Our field events carried us,” said Central boys co-coach Sully Grella. “It’s a numbers game. Our assistant coaches do a great job coaching all the events, and every year we’re scoring in all the events.” (via Boston Herald)

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.’’. (via Boston.com )

Kris Horn went through his practice jumps in the long and triple jumps on Friday, taking particular not exactly where his marks were for both events. Satisfied that he had narrowed them down to within inches of his steps, the Pembroke talent went home and prayed for a hot, sticky Saturday on his home track. Horn’s prayers were answered and he took full advantage. The versatile Titan broke the Div. 3 meet record in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 11-¼ inches and took the triple jump with a 46-0 effort, defeating Saugus’ terrific jumper, Olisa Obiefuna, in the process.  

106- That's the number that befuddled Hingham boys Coach Fred Jewitt when he counted the points in his head. In what was a back and forth affair all day long at Pembroke High School, the home team Titans (2nd, 84 points) and Bishop Feehan (3rd, could not keep pace with Hingham's Harbormen in the relays. When Jewitt watched sophomore Andrew Bolze cross the finish line in the meet's final event, the 4x400m relay, in 3:26.12, that number seemed almost impossible to believe. But there it was, and Hingham had a 22 point victory and another in a lone line of DIII EMass outdoor track titles.

The "Exchange Zone" debuts on Milesplitmass today , as two of the most knowledgeable Track Coaches around debate "12 " of the hottest topics in Massachusetts Track and Field.  The two Coaches with the gift of gab preview this weekends divisional meets. They run down all four divisions along with several other "Hot" topics.   So if you were overlooked or underestimated by our hosts, please don't heckle, send threatening messages, or physically assault them in anyway.  These two coaches did a phenomenal job at keeping balanced views and gave great insight to this weekends Championship meets. Another great job by "Roondog Productions" ! "

Milesplitmass would like to  introduce a new series called "Athlete of the week" sponsored by Marathon Sports.  Marathon Sports and Milesplitmass will be working together over the next year to help expand our coverage of Track and Cross-Country for Massachusetts.

In the midst of making history at the 1951 Amateur Athletic Union high school indoor nationals, Bob Rittenburg made a gesture that showed competition meant more to him than just filling a shelf with trophies.Mr. Rittenburg, a Boston Latin School senior from Dorchester, won gold medals in the high jump and 60-yard high hurdles, becoming the first Massachusetts track athlete to win two events at the nationals. But what he did behind the scenes in New York City’s Madison Square Garden was reported by the Globe’s John Ahern, who wrote that Mr. Rittenburg handed his high jump medal to runner-up Bernie Bruce of Boston Trade High School.  “Take this and give me the silver,’’ he told Bruce, who reached the same height as Mr. Rittenburg, but had been awarded the silver because he needed more attempts. “I’ve already got a gold from the hurdles.’’Mr. Rittenburg, a hall of fame inductee for Boston Latin and the Harvard Varsity Club, died Monday of leukemia in Massachusetts General Hospital. He was 78 and had lived in Reading for many years with his wife, Mimi, who died May 6.’ (via  BOSTON.COM)

The MIAA has posted the Performance list for this upcoming weekend ! Plese check back here for more information as it arrives to Massmilesplit.

Foxboro’s Liz Holmes has faced every challenge head on in her rookie season of track and continues to make coaches and competitors alike, shake their collective heads in awe at the freshman’s talents.And it’s safe to say the best is yet to come for the enormously talented Holmes, who threw a wrench in the girls’ mile landscape this year.

At today's MSTCA Hall of Fame induction, the Assocation that drives track and field in Massachusetts inducted four new members into its prestigious Hall of Fame. Created in 1979, the MSTCA Coaches Hall of Fame is home to some of the greatest coaches ever to grab a whistle and clipboard, and couldn't have chosen four more desrving candidates for this honor in 2012.

Stiff competition has been a trademark of  the Catholic Conference for years, and the 2012 Conference Meet was no different.  In team the scoring,  the balanced team of St. John’s Prep was pitted against Xaverian and regular season Conference Champion BC High.   As a sample of the competitiveness in the Conference throughout  the year , the third place Hawks  had  beaten BC High  by a point in cross-country, lost to BC High  by a point indoors, and tied 68-68 this outdoor season.  Individually there were some standout performances in the Conference meet, exemplified by Malden Catholics Victor Gabbidon, who was named conference MVP (PR’s 22’0 LJ, 42’10 TJ, 23.7 200m) ,  and Catholic Memorial’s All- State caliber standout Donavan Henry was name  Conference Outstanding Performer.  

The St. John's Shrewsbury Distance Medley Team made a valiant effort to qualify for the National Championships last Saturday at the Last Chance to qualify Invitational at Notre Dame Academy. The foursome of Joe Clark (1200M), Ryan Nix (400M), Connor Murphy (800), and Jon Green (Mile) ran the entire race by themselves and amazingly just got under the National Qualifying Standard of 10:30 seconds. This is a great story and it would never have been possible without the flexiblility of meet Director Rick Kates. A great example of the track community coming together in the best interest of the athletes. Another great job by Coach Infascelli for putting this video together.

Newtonsportphotography.com has another fantastic slideshow from this weekends South Shore Principals Meet in Norwell. 

The South Shore took the spotlight as teams gathered for the South Shore Principals Invitational. The Big Three Conference owned the girls’ 100-meter hurdles at Saturday’s South Shore Principals Track & Field Championship with seven of the eight finishers from either Brockton or New Bedford.

The 52nd Andover Collins-McIntyre Meet was a rousing success for the juggernaut known as Central Catholic. A favored team coming in on the boys side, it was the girls team that stepped up to help both teams claim victory, as well as the combined scoring, with a whopping 148 points, far ahead of Weymouth and Andover. Andover Coach Peter Comeau, somewhat of a local celebrity, put on a show for the fans, complete with a new Lynx HD Scoreboard, but Central Catholic was able to steal that show with several outstanding performances.

Milesplitmass would like to  introduce a new series called "Athlete of the week" sponsored by Marathon Sports. Marathon Sports and Milesplitmass will be working together over the next year to help expand our coverage of Track and Cross-Country for Massachusetts.

Coach "Z" has taken on a new adventure ! The charsmatic, energetic, and successful Coach will be "Z-Capping" the past week in Track and Field in Massachusetts. This is just a glimpse into the road Milesplitmass will be taking in the future. We want to thank Coach "Z" and of coUrse the behind the scene's "master of Video" in  Coach Rooney !

Performance List for last chance to qualify

Mike Miller recaps the Bay State League Meet !

  (via )

The final 200 meters of the 400 is not only Waltham’s Nathan PierreLouis’s strength, it’s also what separates the lanky 18-year-old from the deep talent in his event.   No better example of PierreLouis’s undeniable talent came with his recent performance in the Coaches Invitational at steamy Dilboy Stadium in Somerville. Racing against Catholic Memorial speedster Donovan Henry, PierreLouis stayed in control as Henry shot down the back straight to what looked to be an insurmountable lead. Once PierreLouis made his move, though, the race was all but over. Running tall and straight as an arrow, PierreLouis began to chew up the track with his long stride heading into the third turn. He drew even with Henry and pulled away over the final 100 meters to finish with a new personal best of 47.95.

Follow the Massachusetts Track and Field Alumni in our weekly Alumni report. Many of these Athletes move on and compete, and we at Milesplitmass want to make sure you have a weekly update on their performances.

The full set of photos from the MSTCA Mass State Coaches Invitational  is available in the MSTCA Invitational gallery.

Brockton’s Vanessa Clerveaux broke the MSTCA Coaches Invitational meet record in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles not once, but three times Saturday at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville.In the trials, Clerveaux finished in 14.54 seconds, breaking the meet record of 14.58 set by Hopkinton’s Tiana Riel in 2003. She then bested her time with a 14.42 in her semifinal heat, before posting a personal-best 14.08 in the final - the second-fastest time run by a Massachusetts girl, according to race officials.. (via )  

While most of the Massachusetts Track and Field Athletes competed at the MSTCA State Coaches Meet and the Andover Boosters Meet. A handful of the best made an appearance at the New Balance Twilight open meet at Bentley College. It looks as if Mansfield Senior Josh Lampron is making a very serious threat to break the 4:00 minute mile barrier. Lampron ran a 3:45.74 for 1500 Meters, which lands him as our National leader for that distance. His time converts to 4:03.73 for the mile run. Pembroke’s Wesley Gallagher also ran an impressive 1500 Meter race clocking at 3:55.62 (4:12.94)

Vanessa Clerveaux drew the line in the sand at Saturday’s Coaches Invitational and declared a full assault on the records that lie ahead this season. The Brockton standout made shambles of the 100-meter hurdle event on a hot day at Somerville’s Dilboy Stadium. Clerveaux lowered the meet record twice in her preliminary heats before blitzing a strong field in the final to the tune of 14.08 seconds. The meet record of 14.58 set by Hopkinton’s Tiana Riel in 2003 was long gone before Clerveaux set herself in the blocks for the final. “Like I said before in indoors, I’m trying to break any record I can,” said Clerveaux after clocking a 14.42 in the semifinals. “Every little second matters. My coaches and I have been working on my mechanics. I’m trying to incorporate them over every hurdle. I’m trying to into the 13s, if not today then some time this season.”

Milesplitmass would like to  introduce a new series called "Athlete of the week" sponsored by Marathon Sports. Marathon Sports and Milesplitmass will be working together over the next year to help expand our coverage of Track and Cross-Country for Massachusetts.

Newtonsportsphotography.com has done incredible work in capturing some of the magical moments of the Weston Twilight Meet, including the incredible Pole Vaut State record by Brendan Sullivan. Relive seven hours of  amazing track and field photography in this 4 minute youtube highlight show. This is photography at its best, and if you enjoyed it please send them a thank you message at the bottom of the blog.    

NEW BEDFORD — While Mark Thornhill's heart condition has kept him off the track for more than three decades, he's stayed close enough to it to continue to have an impact on it. For his contributions to the track and field programs at GNB Voc-Tech and his influence on the running community the past 27 years, Thornhill has earned a place in the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association's Hall of Fame. He'll be inducted along with Brookline's Michael Glennon, Lowell's Phil Maia and Amherst Regional's Dr. Mulazimuddin Rasool during the MSTCA's Annual Awards Banquet May 20 at Lantana's Restaurant in Randolph. Old Rochester's Bill Tilden will also be honored by the MSTCA as the Eastern Mass. Boys Spring Track Coach of the Year for 2011.  (via Southcoasttoday.com )

Four teams arrived at Newton North's now famous $200 million complex on Tuesday undefeated and looking for a league title. Somehow, three of those teams left undefeated, and having won a league title. And for the first time in my coaching career, a local TV news crew from Fox 25 even covered the meet for their 6:00 and 10:00 broadcasts, perhaps a sign that track and field might soon move off of the periphery in this state.

The Performance List for the Boys and Girls State Coaches Meet are now posted.

ollow the Massachusetts Track and Field Alumni in our weekly Alumni report. Many of these Athletes move on and compete, and we at Milesplitmass want to make sure you have a weekly update on their performances.

When three different seniors break a meet record and run 9:17 or better for 2 miles, it's easy to understand why the eyes of the Massachusetts track universe might focus on Weston's fantastic Twilight Invitational, a fan and athlete favorite for over a decade on the first Saturday of every May. However, there are still two other meets that deserve as much attention as Weston's, MSTCA's Large and Small Freshman-Sophomore Meets, this year taking place at Newton South and Westwood High School, respectively. It might be surprising that some of the state's best marks were made, not in Weston, but at those two lesser known sites in the morning and early afternoon hours.      

  The pole vault became fun again for Westford Academy’s Brendan Sullivan at last night’s Weston Twilight Invitational.   The state record-holder had been pressing this spring with growing frustration at not hitting the marks he set for himself. Sullivan decided not to worry about his performance, but instead, revert back to the basics in his specialty.  Sullivan entered the competition at 14 feet and proceeded to dominate his competitors with a personal best by five inches and a meet record of 16-0 in the dark shadows beyond the final turn of the track that was five hours busy with competition.  The senior’s mark bettered his own 14-6 mark he shared with Andover’s Mark Vetere and Ross MacDonald of Newton South, while serving as a benchmark performance so far this spring.  “I was calm and just tried to have fun with it today,” said Sullivan. “I went back to the basics. I was thinking about it too much. I just wanted to enjoy it. I’ve had a lot of frustration. I tried not to over think things.”

 The Steeplechase is ready to make a splash at the High School level at Regis College on Saturday as part of the 15th annual Weston Twilight Invitational.  Is this really the first ever High School Steeplechase race in Massachusetts? Some of Massachusetts most knowledgable track and field historians believe it is !  We have had High School runners compete in Open Steeplechase races, as well as Junior Olympic competition. We believe the runners competing in Saturdays meet will make history, and possibly pave the way for more races in the future. Milesplitmass caught up with meet Director and long time Weston coach Joh Monz to find out how the steeplechase made its way into his Invitational.

Thanks to the tremendous efforts of  Rich Hickey, Rick Kates, Charlie Butterfield, and Dave Wilbur, MileSplitMass will be posting live results from several outdoor meets.  Please note that the page will update with the current meet when the computers are connected on race day.

Newtonsportsphotography.com put together this beautiful recap of the Division 1 State  Relays in images. We are hoping to make this a familiar feature in the future. Please feel free to comment at the bottom of the recap. Our special thanks to Newtonsportphotography.com for their incredible work.

 For Somerset-Berkley’s Adam Couitt this spring, success in the high jump is all about picking his spots. Take for example the 6-foot sophomore’s own high jump layout on his home track. The surface is hardly conducive to quality jumps with a feel closer to that of concrete than the slick, synthetic rubber surfaces that are popping up at tracks all over the country. What’s more, the athletes aren’t allowed to wear spikes in the event, instead, limited to flats that simply don’t allow the jumpers to get anywhere near the traction they need on their approach.  

Coach "Z" is back in action as he tracks down up and coming superstar Matt Centrowitz.  The son of a two time Olympian, Centrowitz talks about his personal best high school times,  favorite high school Teammate, and he also gives some great advice to the local high school athletes. We also find out if he is a Baltimore Raven or New England Patriot Fan. Milesplitmass is looking forward to some great "Take 3 with Z's" in the month a May.

Follow the Massachusetts Track and Field Alumni in our weekly Alumni report. Many of these Athletes move on and compete, and we at Milesplitmass want to make sure you have a weekly update on their performances.