Where do we even begin? From Saturday morning until late Sunday afternoon, Reggie was shaking at its core from the fast times and big marks being put up by Massachusetts athletes. Without a doubt, the MSTCA Elite Meet might have been one of the best meets based on performances in Massachusetts's history. It will be hard to fit in a full recap of a meet such as the one we just witnessed, so here is our highlight reel from the top weekend so far this season!
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The morning got off to a fine start on Sunday when the milers stepped onto the track in search of fast times. This was evident from the gun in the girls' fast section, as Sarah Armstrong of Needham took the field through the opening quarter in 72, and in 2:25 at the half. As the race came hit the 1000m mark, it was clear that it would be between Armstrong, Margie Cullen of Needham, and Julia Curtin of Beverly. The race was not decided until the bell lap, when Cullen took control from her teammate and made her bid for victory. Closing in a 35-second final 200, Cullen pulled away confidently and won in a US#2 time of 4:52.14. In the final 100m, Curtin moved around Armstrong to take 2nd, dipping under 5:00 for 1st time with her US#6, 4:54.8 performance. Despite getting passed by Curtin, Armstrong hung tough and put up a very strong time of 4:56.3 to take 3rd.
This impressive mile showing by the girls of Massachusetts now puts four girls under 5:00--three of them are ranked in the top 10 nationally. Interestingly enough, we currently have five other girls in the state who have between 5:00.9 and 5:02.8 so far this season. How many others will go sub-5:00 in the coming weeks?
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In the boy's fast section of the mile, Liam Sullivan of Northampton assumed the pacing duties for the crowded elite field. Opening up the race in a 64, Sullivan eased off the pedal a bit and brought the group through the half in about 2:11. Getting anxious, Zachary Manickas-Hill of Lexington briefly relinquished Sullivan of his duties right before the 1200m mark. Shortly after Manickas-Hill took the lead, Grant Hauver of Wachusett wanted his turn at the front. Zach and Grant would battle back and forth in the penultimate lap, but with 150m to go Hauver shut the door on the field. The Wachusett senior came home strong to win in a new PR of 4:19.8; Manickas-Hill was able to hang on to take 2nd in 4:21.1, while Sullivan came across the line 4:22.06 for 3rd.
After intense mile action, our attention shifted to the always thrilling 300m dash. On the girls' side, Melissa Solomon of Lexington took the fifth heat in a MA#3 time of 40.70. This was a solid PR performance by Solomon and her only chance of defeat was in the final remaining heat. Though she is only a freshman,Alyssa Madden of Oakmont has already been lighting up the track in the sprints. Coming out hard from the blocks in the final 300m heat of the day, Madden tried her best to take down Solomon's top time. But in the end she would be 0.03 off of Solomon's time, settling for 2nd overall. Madden should have little to be sad about, as it was a half-second PR and there are many more victories to come in her career.
The boys' 300m action would prove to be equally as exciting, as we would have Anthony DeLasanta win in MA#1 time of 35.03, Abu Ceesay Norton finish 2nd in 35.32, and Edward Boamah of Worcester Tech right behind everyone in 35.33. Nicholas Smith of Northampton, Myles Holt of Natick, and David Cusack of Wachusett were also all under 36.00.
Working our way back up the distance events, we got a real special treat in the fast section of the boys' 600. Rodney Agayre-May of Burncoat didn't waste any time with his competitors and was out front confidently within the first 200m. Agayre-May got further and further away from the field over the final 400, and eventually crossed the line in a spectacular time of 1:18.94. It's currently a time that ranks him US#1, and #2 All-Time in MA (Joe Luongo of St. Johns Prep is #1 - 1:18.84, 2015). He was also just 0.22 away from Cas Loxsom's New England record. This certainly sets the stage for big things to come in the next few weeks for Agayre-May. We very well could see both Luongo's and Loxsom's record topple on February 20th.
Making her way down the distance ladder after a very fast mile performance last week, Sarah Edwards of Bellingham was ready to prove she had the wheels for the 600. Letting most of her competitors do the dirty work, Edwards was quite satisfied with sitting in the middle of the pack for most of the race. Though once she saw there was one lap to go, Edwards shot off and Samantha Friborg of Acton-Boxborough was the only one to go with her. Friborg remainedd close to Edwards, but never challenge her--Sarah won in a MA#1 time of 1:34.31. Friborg took 2nd and clocked in a new PR of 1:35.01.
After some very quick three-lappers, we got settled in for the final two open events of the afternoon. In the girls' 1000, Clare Martin of Newton South and Kelly Higgins of Weymouth got out front early and hit the first 400m in 68. Higgins toyed with Martin and the rest of the field, but Martin proved to be too strong. Shortly after 600m, the Newton South mid-distance star took over and closed the deal. Martin was all alone when she crossed the finish line in a US#2 time of 2:51.84. Collette O'Leary of Milton overtook Higgins to take 2nd in 2:54.83, while the senior from Weymouth grabbed 3rd in 2:56.74. In the boys' race, Matt D'Anieri of Wellesley didn't take command of the race until the bell lap. At 150m to go, D'Anieri shot off the back turn and came in in a very strong MA#3 time of 2:32.7.
It was clear early on that the girls' 2-mile would be a duel between Abigail Long of Bishop Feehan and Bridget Mitchell of Milton. Long did a majority of the work in the race, while Mitchell just tucked in on her right shoulder. As we hit the bell lap, there was still no separation between this talented duo and we were gearing up for a fight to the finish. Though once there was 100m to go, Long unleashed her kick and put five seconds on Mitchell to take the win in a US#4 time of 10:49.8. The Milton sophomore still had herself a very fine race and PRed by over 20 seconds to finish 2nd in 10:54.6. As we expected in the boys race, Footlocker finalist, Marcelo Rocha of Peabody took the early pacing duties in the fast section of the boy's 2mile. After coming through the opening mile in 4:44, it appeared that it would be a race between Rocha and Peter Monahan of St. Johns. As the race wore on during the later half, Rocha and Monahan were all alone and well under 9:30 pace. Rocha continued to try and notch down the pace, but Monahan wouldn't budge from his shoulder until less than 600m to go and he took off from Rocha. In the end, Monahan would secure a big victory and PR with his US#4 time of 9:20.06, while Rocha would also PR in his first race this indoor season and take 2nd in 9:24.98.
On the infield, Brianna Duncan of Cambridge Rindge & Latin appeared to have her hands quite full with the likes of Brooke-Lynn Williams of Norton and Juleen Lewis of O'Bryant. Williams and Lewis both put up fast times in the prelims and knew Duncan would be the one to beat in the finals. Though Duncan was the heavy favorite, Wiliams was not fazed and got out of the blocks exceptionally well in the finals. In the end, Williams was able to dethrone the Massachusetts Queen of Speed to win the 55m final in a blazing fast meet record time of 7.06. Duncan finished 2nd, also under the meet record time with her 7.08 performance. Lewis of O'Bryant took 3rd in 7.26. Despite the 55m upset, Duncan returned later in the day to win the LJ over Lewis with her best mark of 19'04". In the boys' long jump, Amherst's Jericho Sylla got out to a personal best of 21'9" and was able to walk away with the victory over a competitive field.
In the boys 55m dash, Davonte Burnett of Needham was able to just edge out Noah Shute of Lexington and win in a state leading time of 6.58. Shute was right behind in 6.59 and Ben Pierre of Somerville grabbed 3rd in 6.69. In the boys 55H final, we would see a very similar battle between Erick Duffy of North Andover andHunter Gray of Littleton. Despite entering the meet with the fastest time in the state, Gray would have to settle for second and watch Duffy out lean him at the line. Duffy got the victory with a time of 7.78, while Gray was second in 7.79. Madeyln Sessler of Plymouth South easily won the girls 55H in a new MA#1 time of 8.44.
As we expected in the boys race, Footlocker finalist, Marcelo Rocha of Peabody took the early pacing duties in the fast section of the boy's 2mile. After coming through the opening mile in 4:44, it appeared that it would be a race between Rocha and Peter Monahan of St. Johns. As the race wore on during the later half, Rocha and Monahan were all alone and well under 9:30 pace. Rocha continued to try and notch down the pace, but Monahan wouldn't budge from his shoulder until less than 600m to go and he took off from Rocha. In the end, Monahan would secure a big victory and PR with his US#4 time of 9:20.06, while Rocha would also PR in his first race this indoor season and take 2nd in 9:24.98.
Back on the infield, we were treated to plenty of exciting action in the field events. In the throws circle, we had a battle between Elmer Acuna of Newton North and Matt Jankowski of Burlington. These two were far superior from the rest of the field and in the end, Jankowski won with his hurl of 54'6.25" while Acuna took 2ndwith a mark of 54'4.". In the girls shot, Natalia Philip of New High School was able to upset the heavy favorite from Dartmouth and win with a huge personal best mark of 40'10.25". Dartmouth's Skylar Barthelmes took 2nd with a throw of 40'8.5" and Roxann Wint of Newton North was 3rd with a mark of 40'2.25". In a heated high jump competition, Michelle Connor of Swampscott came away with the victory on a tie-breaker and her leap of 5'3". In no surprise, Kevin Hack of Nipmuc secured a win with his jump of 6'4".
Nothing would be more fitting to close out a superb day at Reggie than awesome relay action. Well the track gods were smiling upon us on Sunday and blessed us with some thrilling relays. In the boy's 4x200, Norton stepped onto the track with everyone out to get them and overthrow their place at the top of the rankings. Though it became apparent that the Lancers weren't ready to relinquish their #1 spot and won in strong time of 1:32.38. On the girls' side, Woburn girls exerted their dominance is this chaotic event and bested the field with their 1:46.67. Springfield Central would finish runner-up with their 1:46.96.
After losing an extremely close race at the D2 relays, Natick boys weren't going to let victory slip away for the second time. On Sunday, Natick got out early and never allowed another team to taste the lead, which gave them a comfortable victory and new MA#1 time of 3:28.36. The girls' race was highlighted by the Milton distance girls flexing some muscle and taking the overall win in the 4x4 with their time of 4:02.
Despite no presence of the heavily favorite Cambridge Rindge & Latin 4x8 squad, we still got to see some top teams battling it out for the win. Sealing the deal for the Brookline victory was the Warrior's anchor leg, who turned it on with a leg to go to put away St. John's and win in a time of 8:12.5. St. John's secured 2nd with their 8:14.4 and Wellesley was 3rd with a time of 8:15.2. After just under two miles of running and three legs, Walpole and Beverly girls were neck-and-neck in the final 50m of the girl's 4x8. As Beverly's anchor leg shifted a bit out of lane one to try and stop Danielle Borelli of Walpole, Borelli shifted to the inside rail and nipped the Beverly squad at the line. The Walpole victory came with a MA#2 time of 9:35.84, while Beverly was 2nd with a MA#3 time of 9:35.9