MIAA Division 2 Championships Preview

The junior has been spot on this winter and will be heading to the Reggie Lewis Center as the top seed in both the 600 (1:35.73) and 1000 (2:57.98). Bergman's best bet comes in the 600 where she is nearly two seconds faster than the rest of the field. There's plenty of talent there in North Andover's Courtney Dalke, Kaleigh Lane of Central Catholic, Nicole Frail of Natick and Marshfield's Charlotte Henning. In the 1000, Bergman will have to contend with the always dangerous Kate Connolly of Natick. Connolly is a notorious fast finisher and the race may not be decided until the final straightaway. Beverly's Heidi Eberhardt, Marshfield's Julie Condon and Kacy Cole of Woburn will all be contending for a top-three finish.

Connolly should medal in the mile as well. The field is a talented one with Concord-Carlisle's lineup of Nora Johnson, Emma Kerimo, Katharine Stevens and Samantha Evans all entered, along with Agawam standout Sarah Ross. Ross could also challenge for gold in the 2 mile against Kylie Oblak of Lincoln-Sudbury and Sofia LoVuolo of Marshfield.

The 300 could be the race of the night between Wellesley's Abby Comella and India Ingemi of Beverly. Ingemi will also battle on the Reggie Lewis Center infield in the 55 against top-seed Mary Daniel of Wellesley, Caileigh Driscoll of Plymouth North, Westfield's Catherine Bean and Wellesley's Chantal Coelho. The 55 hurdles could have a photo finish with Central Catholic's Katharine Duren and Carla Bouchrouche, Brooklyn Manna of Woburn, Cali Luv Leonard of Natick and Bridgewater-Raynham Tiarra Deveaux in the mix.

Manna is the girl to beat in the long jump with no one approaching her 19-3 leap. There is talent, though, in Stephanie Simon of Chelsea, Central Catholic's Katharine Duren and Tiarra Deveaux of Bridgewater-Raynham all in the field.

North Andover's Sarah Lavery is the top seed in the high jump at 5-6-1/2 and there are several jumpers in the field in the 5-3 range. Braintree's Shallen James will be up against Bridgewater-Raynham's Juliana Nakouzi and Emily DeMinico of Central Catholic in the shot put.

The boys' 55 meet record of 6.45 could be erased by Medford's Tristen Howard, who comes in as the top seed at 6.46. Beverly's Jaichaun Jones could also figure in the battle for the gold medal. Derek Chalmers of Wellesley heads a 300 field that includes Jeff Yang of Plymouth North, Ryan Reed of Wellesley, North Andover's Peter Martel, Central Catholic's Evan Mills and Andre Klimkiewicz of Woburn. Mills is the top seed in the 600 and should be pushed by Clay MacDonald of Marshfield, North Andover's Matthew Chicko and Woburn's Adam Canario.

King Philip's Mike Griffin is the top seed in both the 1000 and mile and will be the strong favorite in whatever distance he choses. Look for a slew of athletes including Jackson O'Toole of Wellesley, Central Catholic's James Pothier, Concord-Carlisle's Marko Kovacevic, Jason Norris and Zachary Barry of Wellesley, Lincoln-Sudbury's Justin Lombardi, Jack Determan of North Andover and Matt Giannasca of Central Catholic to fight for a spot on the podium.

The 2 mile should be a burner, particularly if Griffin, who is the third seed, is on the starting line. The field is very deep with William Chaffin of Concord-Carlisle, Michael Norberg of King Philip, Marshfield's Nick Valianti and Steve Carvalho all entered.

Nathan Hebert of Central Catholic headlines the 55 hurdles competition as the No. 1 seed. Wellesley's Max Stakun-Pickering, Denzel Agyeman of Doherty, Concord-Carlisle's Joseph Vann and Nico Fabrizio of Bridgewater-Raynham should all be in the hunt for a gold medal. Mansfield's Andrew Williams and Max Stakun-Pickering of Wellesley have both cleared 6-6 in the high jump to lead a solid field. Wellesley's Derek Chalmers is the top seed in the long jump and should be pushed by Greater New Bedford's Alexander Dacruz, Brady Sorensen of Plymouth North, and Stakun-Pickering. Lincoln-Sudbury's Caleb Yee looks to be the favorite in the shot put with Keegan Kearny of West Springfield and Osamuyimen Osayimwen of Central Catholic in tow.