The weather for Saturday’s New England’ Championships is predicted to be ideal with partly cloudy skies, the temperature in the mid 70-degree range and a low wind. Be prepared for a PR Fest and record-breaking day at this weekend’s meet, held at the University of New Hampshire’s Wildcat Stadium.
Here we feature some of the events where our MA athletes have a chance to challenge for a top position with the potential to earn gold.
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BOYS
The shot should be competitive with the top four athletes with bests over 60 feet, including Peabody’s Alex Jackson. The Tanners’ senior has thrice exceeded 60 feet with a best of 61-5. Jackson will certainly have some competition this weekend. Winslow Sightler of Burlington (VT) has been the most consistent among the quartet with six throws over 60 feet, including a PR of 61-7.75. The CT duo of Norwich Free Academy’s Chris Amy (60-3) and Simsbury’s Thomas Matlock (60-6.5) are also in the field. Jackson (173-6.25) is also the No. 2 seed in the discus with a best of 173-6.25.
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The Bay State could strike it rich in the triple jump with Natick’s Matthew Acquah holding the No. 1 seed, albeit barely. Acquah leaped to a PR of 47-4.5 at the MOC, just 2.5 inches ahead of Arnuad Sioho of South Portland, who is the two seed.
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The 400m is is simply loaded with 25 runners that have broken 50 seconds at their recent state competitions. Xaverian Brothers’ Mitchell Kisgen appears to have the best chance to make the podium. He’s the No. 8 seed with a best of 48.76. Lawrence’s Cristian Remoso (49.05), Somerset Berkley’s Camden Rose (49.05), Newton North’s Juan Talisayon (49.19) and Norwell’s Noah Mulligan (49.79) are all ranked among the top 15 in an event where anything can happen.
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Several of the region’s best two milers are taking this week off to prep for upcoming New Balance Nationals. That doesn’t mean the field is thin for Saturday’s 3,200m. Brookline’s Ben Kasen is the top MA entry and one of seven runners in this race with seeds under 9:20. The fastest in the field and the odds-on-favorite to win this weekend is Matthew Giardina of Bishop Guertin (NH). Last month the gifted junior was seventh in a loaded 3,200m at the Glenn B. Loucks Games in NY with a best of 9:04.12. That time is more than eight seconds faster than the next highest seed, Portsmouth ‘s Sean Geay, who won the 3K at the RI State Meet with a best of 8:33.13, a time that computes to 9:10.95 for 3,200m. Kasen is the No. 6 seed in this race. He owns a best of 9:18.31 for two miles.
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One big jump this weekend could land Chamberlain Guthrie at the top of the podium in the long jump. The Mansfield senior is the No. 7 seed with his 22-7 third-place effort from the MOC. Guthrie has twice gone a PR of 22-11 this season and won the Div. 3 title this past indoor season with an all-time best of 23-0.5. The No. 1 seed in this event is Arnaud Sioho of South Portland (ME) with a best of 23-2.25.
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Unlike most of his counterparts in the longest hurdle event of the meet, it will be new territory for Brockton’s Jarred Mighty in the 300m hurdles. Will it help of hinder the Boxer sophomore, who was the individual titlist in the 400m hurdles at the recent MOC? Mighty clocked a PR of 54.87 in that race, a time that puts him as the No. 7 seed with a 39.30 for the shorter race. That time has him right in the mix for a top finish. The first four in that race have seeds under 39 seconds, including CT rivals Samuel Forte of Xavier and freshman Jovonni Reynolds of Windsor, who are tied at the No. 1 seed with identical bests of 37.58.
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While Windsor (CT) appears to be a shoo-in for the win in the 4x100m with its seed of 41.16, MA’s top entry North Andover is certainly capable of battling for a position high on the podium this weekend. The Scarlet Knights raced to a best of 42.20 at the Div. 3 Championships and are among the top five seeds this weekend.
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The 1,600m is an event where we could have a sizable lead pack still in contention late in the race. Maddox Jordan gets the favorite nod with a best of 4:11.91 from the BSR Elite Scholastic Mile. But don’t expect it to be easy for the Noble (ME) senior, who will be facing a field that features five others under 4:16, including Newton South’s Alex Friedman of Newton South, who has a seed of 4:15.76.
GIRLS
The shot has potential to be a big event for the Bay State with Ludlow’s Elena Chaplin and Newton North’s Skye Petrie Cameron, who have the 1-2 seeds with distances of 43-1.75 and 42-10, respectively, from the MOC. Cameron has the top throw of all the entries with an all-time best of 45-2 from the Div. 1 Championship
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Look for Sharon’s Nina Kyei-Aboagye to be among the top finishers in the 100m and 200m. Nationally-ranked Lisa Raye of West Warwick (RI) is the overwhelming favorite in both events where she is the defending champion. Kyei-Aboagyne is the three seed in the 100m (11.89) and No. 2 seed in the 200 (23.97).
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The high jump could be one of the more competitive events of the afternoon with the first four seeds at 5-6, including Reading’s Katie Caraco and Norton’s Zoe Santos.
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Three of the top four seeds in the discus call MA their home with Walpole’s Sophia Axelrod (134-0), and Falmouth teammates Ruby Premiss (129-1), and Samantha Gaudet (125-7) occupying those spots.
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Could a ninth-grader win the long jump? It’s possible with Oliver Ames ‘ Lavendar Kozaka in the field. She has a best of 19-2.25. That’s less than seven inches from East Hartford’s Kiera Stewart (19-9), the No.1 seed.
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Stoughton’s Maya Ashu and Peabody’s Alessandra Forgoine have the potential to produce a 1-2 finish for MA in the javelin. Ashu is the No. 1 seed at 135-7, while Forgone is at No. 2 with a best of 132-7.
