It's North Reading And Burlington At D4 Relays!


Different division, same results.

Just a year after winning the Division 5 title, the girls from North Reading were back to their winning ways at the Division 4 State Relays on Saturday. The Hornets managed just one victory, but their depth prevailed in a convincing 48-30 triumph over second--place Pentucket. Medway was third with 28 points.  

"Our goal was to win," said NR coach Sotirios Pintzopolous. "I know we went up a division and had to go against some bigger schools, but all year we have be training for this. We have a lot of depth on this team and everyone knows this is the depth meet." 

North Reading's lone victory came in the long jump where the Hornets came less than three inches from a meet record with a distance of 48-8.75. Medway also cracked 48 feet with a 48-2 effort. The Hornets' winning performance moved them from second to first in the standings with four events remaining in the meet. 

North Reading scored in seven of the 10 events, including a 2-3 finish in the 4x50-yard relay and a runner-up placement in the 4x400m (4:17.32).

For the boys, Burlington won its second straight title. The Red Devils squeaked by Wakefield Memorial with a narrow 39.5-37-point decision. Northampton was third with 24 points. Burlington collected 32 of its points with runner-up placements in four relays - the sprint medley (3:38.54), distance medley (11:01.41), 4x50y shuttle hurdle (28.74) and the long jump (17.45 meters).

"We over-performed in most of our events today and that's rare in relays," said Burlington coach Matt Carr. "I talked about relays never going the way you expect it to go. It usually goes worse than you expect it to - somebody stumbles, turns an ankle, you got to redo your entire lineup from top to bottom. But we were really on today. I am stunned.I really am stunned."

Wakefield captured the boys' 4x800-meter relay, taking the lead with 2.5 laps remaining and never looking back. The Warriors finished with a time of 8 minutes, 25.55 seconds. Pentucket was second at 8:32.01. Early-race leader Triton Regional was third at 8:33.19.

In the girls' 4x800m relay, Grafton claimed the top prize with a school record of 10:02.02. The Indians were focused on their school mark of 10:16, a record it smashed with ease. Taking second overall was Norton in 10:06.52. 

Northampton collected 10 points with a victory in the boys' sprint medley relay, combining for a time of 3:35.94. Burlington was second at 3:38.94. Finishing third with a 3:40.69 clocking was Old Rochester. 

Medway claimed the girls' title with a strong effort of 4:21.70. Northampton secured second in 4:23.41. North Reading placed third at 4:25.39.

North Reading (22.71) and Newburyport (25.30) won the boys' and girls' 4x50y relays, respectively. It was Norwood (28.64) and Pentucket (29.18) in the 4x50y shuttle relays.

Amherst-Pelham swept both distance medley relays. The boys clocked 10:49.42, 12 seconds ahead of runner-up Burlington. The girls held off Nauset Regional to win with a time of 12:46.32. Nauset was timed in 12:50.16.

In one of the more exciting races of the afternoon, the Medway girls had a come-from-behind triumph in the 4x400m relay. The Mustangs finished with a time of 4:16.46. North Reading (second, 4:17.32) and Norwood (third, 4:17.84) was close behind. 

Northampton captured the boys' 4x400m with a solid 3:30.99 clocking. Amherst-Pelham placed second at 3:31.62.

Randolph (122-1) and Wakefield (97-1.5) claimed the boys' and girls' shot titles.