It’s official. The first days are in the books for all six division state championships. It’s also official in our eyes that were going to have one heckuva of a final day when our track & field athletes are back in action on Saturday and Sunday.
Here we recap very-successful opening days in the boys’ competitions.
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DIVISION 1 at Westfield State University
Lexington’s McKenna O’Hare Gibson beat a mega-talented field in the 400m hurdles en route to a new state record of 53.19 seconds. O’Hare-Gibson took down the meet and state mark of 53.30 by Brockton’s Jordan Williams in 2019. Finishing second was Acton-Boxbrough’s Noah Stegmeier at 54.15. Xaverian Brothers’ Mitchell Kisgen was third in 55.0.
Just a tenth of a second separated the top three finishers in a ridicules 800-meter race on Friday night. Wachusett Regional’s Dylan Breen managed to come out with an outdoor best of 1:55.72. Breen was just ahead of Acton-Boxbrough’s Ajay Raina (second, 1:55.77) and Brookline’s Cameron Walter (third, 1:55.82). The Wachusett senior was second in this race in 2023.
Defending champion Paul Bergeron came mere strides from becoming our state’s second sub nine-minute two-miler this season. The Westford Academy senior ran a fast 9:00.89 to claim his title. Junior teammate Jack Graffeo had a huge PR of 9:04.07 for second. Finishing third with a best of 9:11.99 was Boston College High’s Chris Lanard. In all, seven broke 9:20.
St. John’s Prep’s Aithan Bezanson edged Saint John’s Antonio Wiafe by 15 points in the Pentathlon with his winning total of 3,384 points.
Six sprinters cracked 22 seconds in the 200m with Nico Begic of Lincoln Sudbury earning the top spot on the podium with a winning time of 21.65. Haverhill’s Natanael Vigo Catala, the state-leader in the 400m, was second at 21.70.
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DIVISION 2 at Merrimack College
State-leader and defending titlist Christopher Brooks powered his way to his second consecutive crown in the 200m on Friday night with a fast 21.35. Winchester’s Daniel Killian was second at 21.48. Four bested 22 seconds in the race.
Wellesley’s Eli Merritt was the winner in the 800m with a PR of 1:56.11. Merritt came on strong the final stretch to just get by second-place finisher, Tyler Johnston of Winchester (second, 1:56.53).
Catholic Memorial dominated the triple jump by going 1-2-4 in the competition. Thomas Kuefler leaped to a school record of 45 feet, 6.5 inches to take the title. The previous mark of 44-11.5 was set earlier in the event by freshman Amar Skeete, who was second overall with that effort. CM’s Orion Fernandez was fourth with a best of 43-9.25. Breaking up Catholic Memorial’s party was Peabody’s Evan Bedard with a third-place effort of 44-10.5.
Arlington’s Alexander Fitzsimmons posted a mild upset over Peabody’s Alex Jackson in the discus with a 10-foot best of 178-3, an effort that moves him to No. 2 in the state rankings. Jackson secured second with a state No. 4 and PR of 176-4.
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DIVISION 3 at Bridgewater State College
The top four finishers clocked negative splits in a competitive 800m race won by Walpole’s Seah Kerin with a time of 1:57.78. Dartmouth’s Tyler Medeiros was second in 1:58.44. Taking the next two spots were Westfield’s Sean Johnson (third, 1:58.47) and Billerica’s Shane Leslie (fourth, 1:58.68).
With near identical splits, Oliver Ames Brendan Thomas captured the two mile in 9:21.93. Thomas passed through his opening mile in 4:40.86. Coming on strong late in the race was Ryan Leslie of Billerica. With 63-second final 400m, Leslie nabbed second in 9:29.39.
Worcester Tech’s Michael Gyimah went sub-22 for the first time to take gold in the 200m. The senior speedster was timed in 21.88. Walpole’s Austin Feener was second in 21.99.
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DIVISION 4 at Westfield State University
State-leader and pre-race favorite Logan Walsh led three under 1:57 to capture the 800m. Walsh took the title with a time of 1:56.16. Middleboro’s Lekan Sotonwa (second, 1:56.49) and Bedford’s Jonathan Garraway (third, 1:56.54) were right on his heels.
Nashoba Regional’s Adam Balewicz, the only runner so far this season to break nine minutes for the 2M, won his specialty with a time of 9:15.78. Falmouth sophomore Silas Gartner was second with a PR of 9:18.54.
In a too-close-for-comfort competition in the Pentathlon, it was Wakefield’s Joseph Pratt that came out on top. Pratt scored 3,268 points, just 36 points ahead of runner-up Salvatore Catanzano of Tewksbury.
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DIVISION 5 at Bridgewater State College
Norwell’s Noah Mulligan won a close competition in the triple jump on Thursday where he soared to a distance of 44-10.5. Weston sophomore Oscar Torres was not too far behind, taking second at 44-3.5.
Two weeks after his victory in the Dual County League Championships, Weston’s Ben Tavares overcame some stiff competition to claim the 800m title in 1:58.87. Dover Sherborn’s Matt Rooney was second with a time of 2:00.07.
Norton’s Andrew McConnell was the first to break the tape in the two mile. McConnell was timed in 9:32.34, about 40 meters ahead of runner-up Thomas Corbett of Norwell (second, 9:39.58).
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DIVISION 6 at Bridgewater State University
Littleton’s Bona Bradshaw collected 18 points to his team’s total at Thursday night’s meet. Bradshaw won the two mile in 9:40.65. Less than an hour earlier, he was second in the 800m with a PR of 1:56.87. Mount Greylock’s Quinn McDermott was first in the race at 1:56.63.
Four athletes exceeded 44 feet in the triple jump with Case’s Christopher Gaboriault winning the title at 45-1.5. Atlantas Charter’s Thalys Silva took the silver with a 44-5.75 effort. Right behind was Randolph’s Daren Nash (third, 44-4.5) and Southbridge’s Luis Gonzalez (fourth, 44-0.75).
In the 200m, Cameron Caso out-raced the competition with his time of 22.02. Monomoy Regional’s Alique Brown placed second at 22.18., while Amesbury’s Michael Sanchez was third in 22.29.
