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 )

Every event in a state championship provides excitement and drama, but this year the relays may decide the team title. But don't expect to see the same line-ups from last week. Some additional fresh legs --courtesy of athletes that did not qualify in an individual event-- may help the common man become the hero. We watched it happen on Sunday at the Division 1 Championships, and those same teams remain in the hunt this week.

Norwell has approximately just 20 girls on their indoor track team. But winning championships is about quality not quantity.  Two athletes from Chuck Martin’s squad had a massive impact on the team point totals and distinguished themselves as dominant competitors in the division. The Newburyport boys were impressive in the distance races; collecting 15 points in the 2 mile, 16 points in the mile, and 8 points in the 4x800m.  But they were not one dimensional in their attack; scoring in 9 of the 13 contested events.

THE HERALD TEAM Olivia Brackett Sr. Weston Christine Davis Jr. Acton-Boxboro Priyanka Fouda Sr. Wellesley Alexandria Giese Sr. Franklin Sarah Keiran Jr. Ipswich Julie McConville Jr. Hingham Abigail McNulty So. Bishop Feehan Lee Milne Jr. Dover-Sherborn Maggie Mullins Sr. Andover Grace... (via Boston Herald)

The indoor track season is upon us and it’s time to take a look at the top returners from each event.

The indoor track season is upon us and it’s time to take a look at the top returners from each event.

The pressure was on the Weymouth girls in Saturday’s Div. 1 EMass Championship race, but Mike Millers’ Wildcats were primed and ready to turn away their competition over the 3.1-mile Franklin Park course.

Bishop Feehan and Brookline were locked in a heavyweight fight at the MSTCA Twilight, while St. John's rolled to a relatively easy victory at Wachusett.

There is something about racing at night that causes athletes to lose their feel for pace and forces them to run an abnormally fast first mile.  This scenario will force athletes out of their comfort zone early in the race, and will once again separate those pack running squads that thrive on their ability to work together.  The team that maintain their composure in the first mile, and practice patience until the half-way point, will most likely prevail.   

John Keklak was on-site at the Weston, Wayland, Lincoln-Sudbury tri-meet and captured dozens of photos from each level.

Check for the latest scores and highlights each week as we gather information from around the state. 

Brookline shows their strength at Amherst and Massachusetts teams travel to Rhode Island to sweep the Ocean State Invitational.

Big changes are afoot in the girls Dual County League cross country teams. Gone is the enormous shadow cast by two time all-state champion, three time DCL champion, and four time Globe cross-country all-scholastic Andrea Keklak from Lincoln-Sudbury. Gone too is two-time cross country Globe all-scholastic Kathy O'Keefe from Newton South, DCL runner-up to Keklak the last two years.

Some of the smallest schools in Massachusetts are defying the odds and creating tremendous depth.

The Lincoln-Sudbury girls posted a US#8 time of 9:01.78 and the Wachusett boys posted a US#5 time of 7:36.37 in their respective 4x800m relays.

Many events are wide-open as the seniors take one last shot at glory.

There is no shortage of national caliber talent in the junior class.

 All 13 events were needed to decide both team championships as Old Rochester and Newburyport win close ones.

Will Bromfield rule the relays......again?

  Keep up to date with the latest news from all the league championship meets. Photo by Henry Finch.