There’s little doubt that the milers throughout the state will have to keep a watchful eye on Mancheser/Essex’s Olivia Lantz this winter. Just being aware, though, of the talented sophomore won’t necessarily mean she’ll be any easier to defeat.
Lantz looked to be in mid-season form as she switched gears at 800 meters and ran the second half of the mile in 2:31 for a sterling 5:11.72 in yesterday’s MSTCA Winter Festival Small Schools Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Center. Lantz dueled with Jane Clark of Notre Dame of Worcester over the final 600 meters before pulling just ahead on the back straightaway. Clark ran a superb 5:12.31 for second while Taylor Worthy of Medfield was also under the 5:20 mark in 5:18.52.
Lantz, who clocked a stunning 5:06 as a freshman, liked hooking up in an early-season duel with Clark on the Reggie Lewis Center oval. “I’m still getting into track race mode,” said a surprisingly fresh Lantz. “I had a rough start, but I focused on the middle laps and I poured it all on at the end. It was an exciting finish. I pumped my arms and thought I could pull it out. At the beginning of the season I’m just shooting for running under 5:15. Hopefully I’m on the road to a new PR this year.”
The boys’ race wasn’t as close as Paul Maurais of Hopedale left Tanner Picklus of East Bridgewater behind at the 800 meters and went on to an easy 4:33.30 win. Picklus was second in 4:36.02 and Bedford’s Sam Bradford ran 4:41.02 for third.
Scituate high jumper Jack Kahrs was disappointed in his approach to the bar, but was generally pleased with his 6-4 victory. Kahrs, who owns a personal best of 6-6, has already cleared 6-5 this season and knows time is on his side in ironing out his mechanics.
“Mentally I felt pretty good, but my approach was terrible,” Kahrs said. “I’m a little sore and a little tired today. I didn’t expect to win because I knew the kid from Nashoba has cleared 6-5. Last week I just missed clearing 6-7. It’s still early in the season. I can still improve.”
Wilmington’s Eli Jennings had a big day in the shot put circle, putting forth a 50-5-1/4 effort for the win. Noah Burke of St. Peter-Marian bolted to a 37.35 win in the 300 and Westwood’s David McDonald held off Danny Lenihan of Norton to take the 600 in 1:28.78. Lenihan finished in 1:29.
Carly Muscaro of Ashland blew off the last turn and ran down Medfield’s Kristina Gustafson to win the 300 in 42.56. Gustafson was second in 42.83 and Merissa Wright of Ursuline Academy checked in at 43.38 for third.
Amy Piccolo of Ursuline Academy turned the 600 into a rout in her debut at the distant. A 57-second 400 runner, the muscular sophomore was never challenged as she tore through the 400 in 67 and pushed over the final 200 for the 1:39.96 win. Marissa Porter of Pentucket was a distant second in 1:44.38 and Westwood’s Celia Condrick of Westwood took third in 1:44.81.
Piccolo was pleased with her effort and is undecided if she’ll run the 300 later in the winter at the class meet or move up to the 600. “That was the first time I’ve ever run it,” she said. “It was good. I’ve been switching off (events) a lot and trying to stay balanced. I tried to stay with the girl in first and if I had any energy I’d try to break away.”
The high jump belonged to Uxbridge senior Emily Cahill, who was never challenged in her 5-5 win. She was also a second-place finisher in the 55 hurdles. “I’m glad my legs are able to carry me so early in the season,” Cahill said. “I’ve only had one other meet where I hurdled. I’ve felt comfortable competing in both events early in the season. I made an adjustment in the high jump by moving my mark an inch closer. The littlest thing can make it happen or not happen.”