The MSTCA Division State Relays have arrived.
A majority of coaches will agree that this weekend’s meets represent a true team champion; where depth and talent play a more important role than next month’s championship meets. Throughout this week, we’ll provide a capsule of all five divisions. Who are the teams that will be facing each other this weekend and what are some of the top events and athletes that will be competing in their respective divisions? We’ll have it here. Below we feature the Division 3 State Relays, which will be held on Saturday at Reggie Lewis, beginning at 9 a.m.
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Division 3 State Relays – Boys
Day/Time: Sunday at 9 a.m.
Teams: Agawam, Amherst Pelham, Billerica, Bostn Latin, Burlington, Burncoat, Canton, Chelsea, Chicopee Comprehensive, Dartmout, Dracut, Duxbury. Fitchburg, Greater New Bedford Voke, Holyoke, Mansfield, Marblehead, Masconomet Regional, Melrose, Middleboro, Milton, Minnechaug, Nashoba Regional, Northampton, Norwood, Notre Dame Academy – Hingham, Oliver Ames, Plymouth South, Scituate, Shepherd Hill, Silver Lake, Somerset Berkeley, Somerville, South High Community. Southeastern Regional, Stoughton, Walpole, Westfield, Westwood, Whitman-Hanson Regional, Worcester Tech
Athletes & Teams To Watch: With the foursome of Kyle Yanko, Nicolas Lisle and David and Miguel Penero-Jacome, Amherst-Pelham has a chance at breaking eight minutes for the 4×800-meter relay. Based on their best times, it matches right up to their seed of 8:05.27. David Pinero-Jacome appears to be the anchor, and it makes sense. He’s the fastest of the group with a trio of 1:58 efforts during the outdoor season. This winter, he has a best of 1:26.36 for 600m….Melrose appears to be the favorite in the high jump relay with a combined distance of 17-10 by the squad of Sebastian Flote (5-8), Max Lanciani (5-10) and Sam Madden (6-4). What should create some excitement at the high jump pit is the match between Madden and Masconomet’s Nathan Molina, who checks in with a seed of 6-5…The meet record seems to be in jeopardy in the 4x200m. The current mark is 1:32.30, set in 1987 by Weston. That time is right near the seed of top-ranked Worcester Tech, which comes in at 1:32.83. The Eagles will have plenty of competition to contend with if it wants to keep that No. 1 spot on Sunday. A few of those teams are Mansfield, which has a seed of 1:33.0, and Billerica with a best of 1:33.80…It looks like Flight 3 could produce the 1-2 finishers in the shot put relay with Burlington and Amherst-Pelham capable of winning. The Red Devils hold a definitive edge with the trio of Julian Sacca (50-1), Christopher Williams (45-11) and Liam Welch (45-2). AP’s squad consist of Logan Alfandari (52-0.75), Nathanael Oliver (38-11.75) and Moniha Krouch (35-7).
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Division 3 State Relays – Girls
Day/Time: Sunday at 9 a.m.
Teams: Agawam, Amherst Pelham, Billerica, Bostn Latin, Burlington, Burncoat, Canton, Chelsea, Chicopee Comprehensive, Dartmout, Dracut, Duxbury. Fitchburg, Greater New Bedford Voke, Holyoke, Mansfield, Marblehead, Masconomet Regional, Melrose, Middleboro, Milton, Minnechaug, Nashoba Regional, Northampton, Norwood, Notre Dame Academy – Hingham, Oliver Ames, Plymouth South, Scituate, Shepherd Hill, Silver Lake, Somerset Berkeley, Somerville, South High Community. Southeastern Regional, Stoughton, Walpole, Westfield, Westwood, Whitman-Hanson Regional, Worcester Tech
Athletes & Teams To Watch: The 4x200m relay should generate some electricity at conclusion of the meet with six squads coming in with seeds of 1:50 or faster. Amherst Pelham leads the group with a listed seed of 1:48.0. Mansfield (1:49.0). Burncoat (1:49.92). Westwood (1:50.0), Masconomet Regional (1:50.0) and Marblehead (1:50.0) are among others that should figure in the mix…The time of 12:35 will be on the minds of a couple of teams in the DMR. That’s the time that is needed to get an automatic qualifier for the New Balance Nationals and one that is within the reach of Duxbury and Olver Ames, who both have listed seeds of 12:30….So far this season, we have eight squads that have met the NBN standard of 4:20 for the SMR. We should have several more once this race is finished. Oliver Ames is the No. 1 seed with a time of 4:15.02. Marblehead (4:21.0), Westwood (4:22.0) and Burlington (4:23.0) are a few others within range of the standard.
