|
|
|
By Joe Reardon
The Big Three Conference owned the girls’ 100-meter hurdles at Saturday’s South Shore Principals Track & Field Championship with seven of the eight finishers from either Brockton or New Bedford.
There was no surprise, however, who came away with the win. A week after making a mockery of the record books at the Coaches Invitational, Brockton’s Vanessa Clerveaux once again separated herself from the field in her specialty. The Boxer senior won her preliminary heat with a quick 14.80 before leaving runner-up Melissa Isidor of New Bedford behind in the final with a time 14.46. Isidor was also under 15 seconds at 14.91. Brockton’s Patricia Montiero was third in 15.56 and New Bedford had four of the next five finishers in the final.
Clerveaux also won the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, 10 inches. “I didn’t foul, but my mark was a little behind,” she said. “I could have had a longer jump. I had a really good start in the (hurdles) I knew I had to get a great start.”
Clerveaux still has several goals this season, both time and place wise. She’d like nothing more than to capture the state title with a time under 14 seconds and would like to join Newton North’s Carla Forbes in the over 40-foot club in the triple jump.
Norwell’s Nikki Dempsey had a big day, winning the 100 easily in 12.83 and taking the long jump with a 16-1 effort. Dempsey, who will attend Bryant College in September, credited her win in the dash to an especially strong start.
“I had a pretty good start,” Dempsey said. “That’s crucial for me. If I have a crappy start, I’m going to have a crappy time.”
Dempsey’s teammate Danielle Griffin had a strong day as well with a win in the 800 (2:20.86) and third in the triple jump (35-4-½) with a personal best. Griffin pushed the pace hard the first 400 and held of a fast-closing Miller McCarthy-Tuohy of Newton North (2:23.50). “There hasn’t been a person out there (in the lead),” said Griffin. “Near the end I could feel them.”
Falmouth freshman Lauren O’Neil was well in control of the 2 mile, clocking an 11:50.70 to defeat Norwell’s Alli Weiler, who finished in 11:53.16. “I wanted to run my own race and see what I could do,” said O’Neil, who has a personal best of 11:42 from the indoor season.
Ursuline’s Meghan Grela used her over the final 200 meters to pull away from teammate Maddie Wolfe and capture the mile in 5:19.34. Wolfe was just over a second back in 5:20.97. “We run together a lot,” said Grela. “I knew we’d be together the first couple of laps. I was hoping to run a lot faster. I had a lot left and I needed an important race before divisionals. “I like distance and speed. I get really nervous but I though of the workout I did Wednesday. I felt like I had the strength but there was something missing.”
Brockton swept the top-two places in the 200 with Milan Neville and Talia Halliday finishing in 26.19 and 26.38, respectively. Ursuline freshman Amy Piccolo ran a very quick 57.93 to win the 400 over Grela’s 1:00.30. Abby Epplett of Whitinsville pushed hard across the finish line for the win in the 400 hurdles in 1:05.38. Newton North’s Lucia Grigoli won the high jump with a leap of 5-feet and Dominique Coley’s 39-0 heave gave the Brockton shot putter first. Grigolin also won the discus with her 105-1. Amanda Jew of Brookline edged out Natick’s Elizabeth Bruns by two inches in the javelin. Jew’s throw of 119-8 was just ahead of Bruns’ 119-6.
The meet also showcased freshmen competition and there were more than a few solid performances. Newton North’s Kaila Hatcher won the 100 in 13.36 and teammate Isabella Reilly took the 400 in 1:03.36. Jackie Coscia of Scituate ran away with the mile in 5:36.75.
Norwell’s Owen Wiggins found running on his home track to his liking. With the crowd urging him on, Wiggins dusted the mile field in a personal best of 4:25.66, just days after easily claiming the mile title in the South Shore League Meet. Wiggins surged away from New Bedford’s Paolo Tavares and ran the final 800 meters in 2:09 for the win. Tavares was second in 4:32.75. “The plan was to go with a lap to go, but I felt too good,” said Wiggins. “That kid from New Bedford is talented. He’s one of my favorite people to run against. I haven’t lost a race on this track all year. I didn’t want to get beat today.” The race served as a perfect primer for Wiggins heading into next weekend’s Div. 4 Championships where he plans to run the 2 mile. He has a best of 9:42 and is hoping for a big personal best. “I want to get close to 9:30, if not under,” Wiggins said. “The longer the distance, the better I am.”
Abington’s Brendan Whalen was also running his first race since capturing the 2 mile in the SSL Meet earlier in the week. It also proved to be his best performance ever as he ran away from the field to win by 15 seconds. More importantly, Whalen broke the 10-minute barrier for the first time with his 9:55.33.“I wanted to stay back for the first mile and then go,” said a happy Whalen. ‘I felt I could run a little faster.”
New Bedford’s Ory Todd clinched his win in the 400 with a fast finish. The Whalers’ junior clocked a quick 51.78 to easily defeat Brockton’s Rokas Piragis, who ran 52.43. Norwell’s Tom Vafiades held off Hopedale’s Chris Kivior to win the 800 in 2:02.39.Vafiades overcame a slowish start to finish hard in convincing fashion. “We went out a little too slow,” he said. “I wanted to go out at 58. The first 100 meters were really fast and I hung on to that guy from Hopedale. I had to get in front and go as fast as I could the last 100 meters.”
Pembroke’s Kris Horn did his fair share of damage, winning the 200 with a quick 22.20 and the triple jump with a leap of 45-4. TJ Russell of Plymouth South won the high jump at 6-2 and Zac Lyons of Bridgewater-Raynham got off a 21-2 effort to take gold in the long jump. Falmouth’s Carmen Cilfone won the shot put at 46-1-½ and Cory Burns led a 1-2 Whitman-Hanson sweep in the discus at 128-3. Teammate Chris Ryan took the silver medal with his 125-9 heave. Pembroke’s Jake Moran joined Horn in the winner’s circle, launching the javelin an impressive 167-10. Norwell’s Charley Petit was victorious in the 100 with an 11.45. Jimmy O’Brien of Stoneham took the freshman 100 in 11.70 and Adam Petti of West Bridgewater ran a very solid 4:46.81 for the mile win.
|