New England Rankings: Championship Edition

New England track and field action took place on a national spectrum in every sense of the term.  State records were broken in Boston at the Massachusetts All-State Championships, and national leaders were crowned at the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, Washington. All of this happened only five days prior to the New England Championships which is scheduled for Friday at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. 

Three athletes from Connecticut and one from Rhode island made the cross country trip to compete on the "Dempsey"; an oversized indoor track notorious for blazing fast times. That reputation held true and it was New England athletes that were burning up the oval.

Precious Holmes of Hillhouse (CT) posted another US#1 mark, but this time it was in the 400m. She won the event in 53.53, while her teammate Kellie Davis finished third in the 800m in a US#6 time of 2:12.47. Also competing in the 400m was Sydney Over of Windsor (CT) who finished 6^th with a US#5 time of 55.61.

Rounding out the New England contingent in Seattle were distance runners Mike Marsella of Chariho (RI) and Connor Rog of Fairfield Prep (CT).  Marsella finished fifth in the mile with a US#6 time of 4:10.54.  Rog was 11^th in the 2 mile with US#15 time of 9:15.59. Both now lead New England in their respective events.

Closer to home, the Massachusetts All-State Championships produced four state records and eight New England leading marks.  Headlining the day were record breaking performances from Vanessa Clerveaux of Brockton (7.98 in the 55h), Carla Forbes of Newton North (20’1.25” in the long jump), Andre Rolim of Somerville (1:19.94 in the 600m), and the Chelsmford 4x200m relay team of Connor Brimely, Vinny Maniscalco, Nick Imperillo, and Joe Maniscalco (1:29.70).

Other impressive performances in Massachusetts were courtesy of Catarina Rocha who now leads the mile in 4:50.38; Liz Holmes who now leads the nation in the mile for the freshman class (4:55.74); and the Newton North girls 4x400m relay team who won the event with a NE#1 time of 3:56.77. 

The Newton North boys 4x400m team won the overall state title for their school with a 3:24.34 clocking.  Acton-Boxborough (3:25.65), Newton South (3:26.03), and Mansfield (3:26.39) were not far behind and the quartet now claim the top four spots in the region.