Jane Clark

  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.

Mike Miller recaps the Central Mass State Championships

The 1000m continues to be a bright spot for the state.  On Saturday, freshman Maya Halprin Adams (Cambridge R&L) won the Large School event in 3:10, then on Sunday three girls ran under the Small School meet record of 3:08.12 set in 2006 by Meg Looney.  Alexia Lipman (Broomfield) won the event in a MA#4 time of 3:04.07. She was followed by Catalina Dominick of Danvers (3:05.66) and Brooke Hansel of Lunenburg (3:06.30). 

The MSTCA Winter Festival signaled the start of major invitational action in Massachusetts, and several prominent athletes from last year picked up right where they left off.  It was an impressive first day at the Reggie Lewis Center as the Small School athletes were on center stage Saturday.