EMass D1: Banner Day For Several Athletes


It was a banner day for several athletes at Monday's Eastern Massachusetts Division 1 Championships, held at Andover High. 

Samantha Friborg clocked a PR and the No. 2 time in the country to capture the 800-meter run. The Acton-Boxborough senior finished with a time of 2 minutes, 7.75 seconds. Natick's Grace Connolly placed second overall with a best of 2:13.41. Franklin's Julia Fenerty was third in 2:13.87. 


As expected, Connolly didn't go empty-handed, making it to the top of the podium in an impressive way. The talented junior dominated the mile run with an all-time best of 4:50.96 (US #14). Brookline's Vivian McMahon was a distant second at 5:08.07.

In a competitive, and lightning-fast girls' 200m race, Andover's Delia Barbanti edged Anna Jordahl-Henry of Wellesley with a time of 24.85. Jordahl-Henry crossed the line in 24.93. 

It was an impressive display at the boys' long jump where the top four distances in the state were achieved. Ikechukwu Irabor of Xaverian Brothers became the first athlete over 24 feet this season with a state No. 1 of 24 feet, 4 inches (US #3). St. John's Prep's Nate Hobbs took runner-up honors with a leap of 23-7.75. He was followed by Lowell's Richmond Kwaateng (third, 23-7) and Acton-Boxborough's Adam Yang (fourth, 23-3).

Yang clocked a state best in the 110m hurdles where he broke the tape in 14.48.

Andover's Alec Pascoe cruised to a state-leading 54.48 to capture the 400m hurdles. Right behind was Brockton's Jordan Williams, who was timed in 55.15.

Tristan Shelgren of St. John Prep got the best of familiar rival Andrew Mah in the two mile run. Both came through with PR performances with Shelgren taking gold in 9:10.21 and Mah securing second in 9:11.25. 


Girls Highlights