Event Spotlight
A brief look at some of the intriguing Division 4 match-ups scheduled for this weekend.
Boys
55 Meter Hurdles – Joseph Giambaresi of Amesbury has the fastest fully automatic time of 7.94. He is currently #10 in the state and the only competitor in the filed to run a FAT time under 8 seconds. With so many converted times (from 50 yards and hand times) it will be anybody’s guess as to the potential outcome of this one.
600 Meter Run – John Horstman (South Hadley) has been ranked in the state’s top 10 for weeks and he is the #1 seed at 1:22.76. He has a realistic shot at the meet record of 1:22.16 set in 2005 by Douglas Caves of Oxford. Horstman has a 3 second gap on the next closest competitor, but, Matt Becker (1:26.09), Marc George (1:26.61) and Shawn Madan (1:26.74) all have a chance to advance.
1000 Meter Run – This race looks very similar to the 600m. Conor Lyons (Hamilton-Wehnam) is the clear favorite at 2:33.81. Only one runner (Josh Lampron of Mansfield) has run under 2:30 this season but Lyons has a chance. If he can do that, the meet record of 2:29.76 may be in jeopardy. After Lyons, there are 5 runners who have posted times under 2:44 and it should be a close call for the 2 remaining automatic qualifying spots.
1 Mile Run – Dana Dourdeville (Old Rochester) specializes in the mile, and that focus has resulted in a 4:22.69 season best. He is the number one seed, and on paper, has a 7 second advantage over Nick Kronauer of Bromfield. But lurking in 3rd (4:35.24) is Cody Archambault of Seekonk who has looked very strong in the past month and seems poised to drop a big PR.
Long Jump – This event features two of the best jumpers in the state. Aidid Brayboy (Snowden Int.) is the top seed and the #3 jumper in the state at 21’8.5”. He is followed closely by Gavin O’Neil (Saint Peter Marian) who is the #2 seed and #7 in the state at 21’5.75”. Brayboy and O’Neil will be challenged by 5 other athletes that have jumped over 20ft.
4x200 Meter Relay – East Bridgewater is the #1 seed at 1:34.31. Casey Deandrade (the #1 seed in the 55m at 6.69) will have to be spectacular if they plan on attacking the meet record of 1:33.56. Saint Peter Marian and South Hadley have very good depth in the sprints, as demonstrated by their #2 and #3 seed times.
4x800 Meter Relay – This will be the second race of the day for Dana Dourdeville of Old Rochester as he attempts to position his team for the win and possibly a shot at the meet record of 8:24.29. Hamilton-Wenham is just over 11 seconds back of Old Rochester and will have their hands full with #3 seed Bishop Fenwick.
Team Predictions (based on seed times/marks)
1. Newburyport (63)
2. Old Rochester (42)
3. East Bridgewater (26)
4. North Reading (24)
5. Sutton (24)
Girls
55 Meter Dash – Victoria Miles is the #1 seed with a converted time of 7.34. She ran a 7.61 fully automatic time last week at the District E Championships and will be challenged by Megan Kaswandik of Douglas, and Brianna Tabin of South Hadley. Tabin ran 7.24 at the 2010 All State Championships and has traveled down to Yale this season where she ran multiple rounds in the 7.4 range.
300 Meter Dash – Megan Goodwin is the #1 seed and the only athlete in the field to run under 42 seconds. She is currently #16 in the state and will be challenged by 4 girls that have run under 43 seconds.
600 Meter Run – Mimi Narbonne is the latest star to hail from the Bromfield School. She is the top seed at 1:37.25 and has run 56.80 for 400m outdoors. She is the clear favorite, but the fight for 2nd and 3rd will come down to 6 girls that have run sub 1:44.
1000 Meter Run – A three girls break-away should happen early in the race, and then they have a decision to make; settle the pace and be content to qualify, or press the middle laps in an attempt to break 3 minutes. Abigail Pohl (Weston), Tara Sullivan (Ursuline Academy), and Alexa Lipman (Bromfield) are all separated by just over a second and should be able to help each other to impressive times. Pohl is also the top seed in the mile and will most likely sit in the group if she plans on running both events.
2 Mile Run – Weston teammates Olivia Brackett and Charlotte Walmsley can potentially break from the pack and control this race from the gun. Bracket is the #1 seed at 11:26.64, followed by Walmsley at 11:31.37. Brittany Venturo of Coyle & Cassidy is the #3 seed at 11:44.14 and could spoil those plans.
4x400 and 4x800 Meter Relays – Bromfield rules the relays as the top seed in both events. Their 9:55.62 time in the 4x800m is #16 in the state and they may challenge the 4x400m meet record of 4:07.69 set in 1998 by Wayland. They ran their MA#10 4x400m time of 4:07.94 at the MSTCA Girls Invitational and will need Mimi Narbonne to have a big anchor leg if they want a chance at the record.
Team Predictions (based on seed times/marks)
1. Weston (45)
2. Bromfield (39)
3. Old Rochester (32)
4. South Hadley (26)
5. Coyle & Cassidy (24)
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