New England Rankings: 6th Release

Chariho High School set a lofty standard for the week when their 4x800m relay team cruised past the Rhode Island state record of 8:04.09 set in 2009 by South Kingstown.  The team of Drew Turner (2:02.4), Dan Kilcoyne (1:58.7), Bryce Kelley (1:58.6), and Mike Marsella (1:54.6) combined for a US#2 time of 7:54.3 to win the Charles Sweeney Last Chance meet.  They are the only team in New England to break the 8 minute barrier this season, but a slew of teams from the region have already run under 8:10; leaving us wishing the New Balance Grand Prix would expand the field beyond Massachusetts and New York. 

Four athletes from New England traveled down to Madison Square Garden to participate in the U.S. Open Invitational Mile.  On the boys’ side, Wes Gallagher of Pembroke (MA) finished second (4:20.01), Nick Christensen of Peabody (MA) was third (4:20.23), and Chris Cogliano of Bishop Guertin (NH) was eighth (4:30.46).  A slow first half hampered the chances of anybody running a new personal best, but all three have the potential to post significantly faster times in the weeks to come.

The lone female representative at the U.S. Open was Maddy Berkson of Classical High School (RI).  The sophomore moved up to #5 in the New England rankings with her 5:02.77 clocking, but even more impressive, is the fact that she is the top raked athlete in four other events in her home state of Rhode Island.  Berkson sits atop the state leader board in the 400m (58.72), the 600m (1:36.20), the 800m (2:12.90), and the long jump (19’2.25”).

A few other female distance runners made some noise this past week at their respective local meets.  Catarina Rocha took over the top spot in the mile with her 4:53.89 winning performance at the MSTCA Elite meet in Boston.  Freshman Liz Holmes of Foxboro (MA) was second in 5:03.75; a time that has her ranked US#2 for her class. 

At the SCC East Championships, Kellie Davis of Hillhouse High School (CT) posted an incredible triple that consisted of a 3:05.84 (1K), 5:08.72 (1600m), and 11:21.90 (3200m).  Add that to Precious Holmes’ winning double in the 600m (1:36.59) and 300m (39.58) and you can see why Hillhouse is a tough team to beat.

Some familiar faces produced some not so common times in the 55m hurdles this week.  The MSTCA Elite meet produced the top three times in New England, with Nicole Genard (Somerville) running a new Massachusetts State Record for the win in 8.00.  Vanessa Clearveaux (Brockton) was a close second with a NE#2 time of 8.02, and Jen Esposito (Mansfield) is now 4^th all-time in Massachusetts with her third place finish in 8.13.  The remaining top six spots now belong to Betsy Garnick of Bishop Guertin (8.24h), Kayla Wong of Newton North (8.28), and Hillary Holmes of Exeter (8.33).

Donovan Henry of Catholic Memorial (MA) cracked the national top ten and took over the top spot in New England with his 34.72 winning performance in the 300m at the MSTCA Elite meet.  Bo Lewis Jr. of Framingham (MA) moved NE#2 with his 35.48 showing at the same meet.

The field events had three New England leaders widen the gap on the rest of the field.  Carla Forbes of Newton North (MA) improved to 19’6.5” in the long jump, Cherraine Davis of Southington (CT) launched a 43’6.5” toss in the shot put, and Adrienne Thornton of O’Bryant (MA) now leads the weight throw by five inches at 51’8.75”.