Week #2 Summary
The first big invitational of the year always wreaks havoc on the State Top 10 list and the MSTCA Winter Festival was no exception. 32 MileSplit National Elite marks were set in the Large School Section and a new national leader emerged from a strong contingent of 600m runners in the Small School Section. Fast times on the track and impressive marks in the field were posted across the board with Massachusetts athletes leading the way for the rest of the nation in a few key events.
Two sprinters are establishing themselves as a force on the track but they are doing it in very different ways. One is dominating three different events, and the other is dominating one event three different times. Rebecca Robinson (Arlington H.S.) is leading the state in the 55m (7.34), 300m (39.79) and the long jump (16’7 ¾”), while Phito Gondre (New Bedford H.S.) displayed remarkable consistency in the 55m by running 6.56, 6.58, and 6.60 in the three rounds of competition at the MSTCA Winter Festival. Consistency is key in the short sprints and Gondre is going to be tough to beat if he can continue to run this technically sound.
The female distance runners of the Bay State seem to be carrying their fall fitness levels into the winter indoor season. Last week we witnessed several impressive mile times and this week we watched several of the state’s top girls move up to the two mile. Leading the group was Maggie Mullins (Andover H.S.) who rocketed to the #1 spot in the nation by running an impressive 11:07 at the MSTCA Winter Festival. In addition, Colleen Sands (Wachusett Regional H.S.) took over the #2 spot in the nation at 11:11. Along with Katie Carlson (Wachusett Regional H.S.), Megan Ross (Franklin H.S.), and the contingent of other female athletes that took a little more recovery time after cross country, we appear to have a pack of talented female 2 milers that will go well under 11 minutes.
At this point in the season, the state’s deepest field is in the boys 600m. Three Massachusetts runners appear in the national top 10 and several are already running times faster than their 2009-2010 PR’s. Mike Galasso (St. John’s Prep) and Jair Cruikshank (Nashoba Reg.) lead the way tied at 1:23.89. Both posted that time at the MSTCA Winter Festival, but unfortunately for track fans, it was done in different sections and on different days. One can only imagine what would happen in a race with Galasso, Cruikshank, Brad Porter (1:23.99) and William Looney (1:24.51). To put this in perspective, 1:24.00 placed in the top 10 at the state meet last year and only two athletes ran sub 1:25.00 at the 2009 Winter Festival. A late season showdown is already shaping-up.
Here are some other notable performances from the week:
- Ezra Lichtman (Newton North H.S.) ran 2:40.52 for 1000m at the Bay State meet on Thursday and then came back two days later to run a state leading 4:28 mile at the Winter Festival on Saturday.
- Brad Porter (Reading Memorial) now leads the state in the 1000m at 2:35.66, and is 3rd in the state at 600m (1:23.99).
- Sam Yoder (Bishop Feehan) is now tied for the national lead in the high jump at 6’6”.
- Sean Enos (St. John’s Prep) and Joe Hoffman (Burlington H.S.) cracked the 50’ barrier in the shot put with marks of 51’8.5” and 50’5.75” respectively.
- Hailey Laird is now #7 in the nation at 5’5” in the girls’ high jump.
Click on any event to see a detailed list of rankings. You can also go to the stats link to sort by year, grade, county, section, league, etc. See something missing? Send corrections or verifiable results to pbendzick@milesplit.us
State Leaders - Girls
State Leaders - Boys
Week #2 Summary
The first big invitational of the year always wreaks havoc on the State Top 10 list and the MSTCA Winter Festival was no exception. 32 MileSplit National Elite marks were set in the Large School Section and a new national leader emerged from a strong contingent of 600m runners in the Small School Section. Fast times on the track and impressive marks in the field were posted across the board with Massachusetts athletes leading the way for the rest of the nation in a few key events.