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 those 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 2 on Friday and Sunday at Merrimack College.
GIRLS
Mile (Sunday at 4:40 p.m.)
We could be saying bye-bye to to the meet record in this one. The 22-year-old MR is 4:58.30 by Lincoln-Sudbury star alum Lindsay Donaldson. That’s a time that Wellesley’s Charlotte Tuxbury has run multiple times. She owns an all-time best 4:53.38 from her race at the Trials of Miles in New York at the beginning of the month. She also went 4:55.16 at the Penn Relays Carnival last month. She’s ready to take down Donaldson’s 2022 record.
100n hurdles/400m hurdles (Sunday at 5:30 p.m./Friday at 5:20 p.m.)
We joined these two events together for a reason. In both events, Algonquin’s Olivia La Belle is our No. 1 seed. La Belle will not have it easy with Woburn’s Nicole Gangi a strong candidate to spoil her party. La Belle has a top time of 1:03.45 in the 400m IH, just .19 ahead Gangi. For the shorter race, La Belle has a best of 14.95. The Woburn sophomore checks in at 15.31.
800m
This event has the makings of a fast race. North Andover’s Erika Wojcik is the favorite with a best of 2:14.89, a time that ranks her No. 5 in the state. Behind Wojick, is three more that have gone under 2:20 – Wellesley sophomore Kayla Bohlin (2:17.19), King Phillip’s Danielle Lomuscio (2:19.33) and Wellesley’s Delaney Dyer (2:19.60).
Javelin
Somewhat similar first names, somewhat similar performances this season. This event appears as though it will come down to Peabody’s Alessandra Forgione and Concord-Carlisle’s Alexandra Saunders. Forgione has a top seed of 126-7. Saunders has a 125-5.25 best.
BOYS
Shot/discus (Sunday, 4:30 p.m./Friday at 3 p.m.)
Out of nine meets this season, his lowest effort is still four feet further than the next seed. There’s no question who will win the shot. The bigger question is how far will Peabody’s Alex Jackson throw this weekend. The Tanners’ junior had already exceeded 60 feet twice this season. He has a PR and state-leading 61-1.25 from his victory at the Andover Boosters Invitational on May 11 and went 60-3 at a league meet in early April. Will we see another 60-footer at D2s? We also can’t forget the discus. Jackson’s a top seed there, too. At the NEC Championships last week, he took the individual title with a five-foot best of 170-4, an effort that ranks him No. 5 in the state. A similar improvement like he did at the NECs, would boost Jackson to No. 2 in the state rankings.
Javelin (Sunday at 3 p.m.)
It’s not often you get a javelin thrower that can reach 200 feet. In fact, according to our records, only five have done it in the history of the state. One of those five happens to be in this event on Sunday and he still has two more years until he graduates. Chelmsford sophomore Gable Gray is the recipient of these accolades and an overwhelming favorite to come out on top this Sunday. After tossing a 25-foot best at the Twilight Invitational with a 199-4 effort, Gray hit his milestone 200-footer the following week to capture gold at the Andover Booster Invitational with an all-time best of 206-3. He currently ranks No. 8 in the country.
4x100m relay (Sunday at 6:35 p.m.)
This is an event that could get nasty – in a good way, of course – at next week’s Meet of Champions, Prior to the divisional state meets, five teams have broken 43 seconds. One of them happens to be here. North Andover leads a very-talented field where at least two more have a chance to go sub-43. The Scarlet Knights hold the top seed with a best of 42.90. As always, handoffs will be crucial. Right behind North Andover is Springfield and Wellesley with seed times of 43.02 and 43,05, respectively.
100m dash/200m (Sunday at 4:30 p.m./Friday at 5 p.m.)
In these two races we have one of our state’s fastest athletes with Wellesley’s Christopher Brooks. The Red Raiders senior is the defending champion in both events and was our 100m titlist during the winter. Translation: He’s got some wheels. And so does his competition this weekend. Brooks has the No. 1 seed in the 200m with his PR of 21.20 from the Coaches Invitational. Winchester’s Daniel Killian is at No. 2 with a seed of 22.01 and Wellesley’s Sincere Fontaine holds the three seed with a time of 22.14. The 100m appears to be his biggest test. Brooks is again the top seed with his best of 10.73. Mansfield’s Nathan Looney (10.81) and Springfield’s Davien Fernandez (10.84) are the next two seeds.
