Before we begin, we’d like to stress one thing. There are multiple events at the Division State Championships that could be on this list. After all, the best of the best in each division have earned their right to compete on the big stage. We’d like to congratulations all of these fine athletes that will be competing this weekend. Your hard work and your dedication to this great sport has paid off. Well done!
So, without further adieu, here’s our pics for the five girls and five boys events that we consider the top ones to watch in Division 4 at Westfield State University on Thursday and Saturday.
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GIRLS
Two Mile (Thursday at 6:45 p.m.) & Mile (Saturday at 4:55 p.m.)
Here you get the two-for-one deal. That’s because these events feature the same No. 1 seed – Nashoba’s Caroline Collins. The outstanding senior has bests of 4:53.17 in the mile and 10:37.44 for the deuce. Both events her seeds are comfortably ahead of the No. 2 runner. Could we see a pair of very fast solo efforts this weekend?
100m dash (Saturday at 4:20 p.m.)
Two runners have broken 12 seconds in this event this season. One of them happens to be in this race. Pembroke’s Sarah Claflin gets the favorite nod with her best of 11.97. She won at the Weston Twilight and also happens to be last year’s Div. 3 and Meet of Champions winner.
800m (Thursday at 5:40 p.m.)
We’re almost guaranteeing that this one will come down to the final stretch. It features Holliston’s Maggie Kuchman (2:18.25), Bedford’s Zadie Buckley (2:18.43), Holliston’s Annabelle Lynch (2:20.05) and Groton Dunstable’s Meghan McEleney (2:20.30) among our top seeds.
Shot (Saturday at 3 p.m.)
Two of our state’s five 40-footers are in this event, including our state-leader. Ludlow’s Elena Chaplin holds that distinction with her PR of 42-3 She knows how to compete in these type of meets. After all, she was our winner at the Meet of Champions during the winter. The two seed is Chicopee’s Maria Fareti with a best of 40-9.
BOYS
Two Mile (Thursday at 6:45 p.m.)
This event features our state’s first and only sub-9 performer this season, Nashoba’s Adam Balewicz,. The Virginia-bound senior ran 8:59.79 to capture the 2M at the Weston Twilight Invite. The next closest seed is Melrose’s Caleb Barnes with a seed of 9:19.76.
100m dash (Saturday at 4:30 p.m.)
We could see a few under 11 seconds this weekend in a race that could be won by inches. Nauset’s Adian Brown (11.04), Pembroke’s Jayden Leonard (11.07) and East Longmeadow’s Dominick Gamelli (11:07) are all on the cusp of dipping under the milestone. Will it be on Saturday?
800m (Thursday at 5:45 p.m.)
He was our HOKA Athlete of the Week for a reason. Ludlow’s Logan Walsh will be looking to follow up a PR of 1:54.33 from the WMass Div. 3 Championships this past weekend with an even faster effort against a talented field that include 11 that have broken two minutes.
Discus (Thursday at 3 p.m.)
This event features our state’s No. 2 thrower with Marlborough’s Parker Rogers. He brings a best of 176-8 to the circle. The No. 1 distance in MA is 184-0 by Belmont Hill’s Josiah Gomes. Even though Belmont Hill does not compete in the MIAA, you know that’s a mark he’ll be eyeing. At least, we think so. Guess we’ll find out.
Long Jump (Saturday at 3 p.m.)
Could we have a 23-footer in this event? It could happen. The No, 1 seed and favorite is Burlington’s Ryan Brooks with a best of 22-10. That’s a foot further than his closest rival and two inches from a big day at the sand pit.
Shot (Saturday at 4:30 p.m.)
Okay, we can’t add. Guess this makes 11 events. We’d be remiss not to mention it considering that the event includes two that have tossed the metal ball more than 50 feet – Amherst Pelham’s Logan Alfandari (54-6.25) and Burlington’s Julian Sacca (50-1.75).
