We’re expecting some stiff competition this weekend in several events at the MSTCA Winter Festival. What events do we feel will stick out more than the rest inside the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center? Here’s what we consider could be among the best for Sunday’s Large School meet.
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Boys’ Long Jump
In events like this, all it takes is one big jump to make a difference. This is one that has few athletes that fall into that category at Sunday’s meet. The No. 1 seed is Brockton’s Jaden Lopes Ribeiro, who soared to a distance of 22 feet, 0.25 inches at the Division 1 Relays last spring. Right behind, at the two and three seeds are 21-footers, Anthony Ciasullo of Woburn (21-10.25) and Lowell’s Nana Opoku (21-8). Seven more have exceeded 20 feet. It could get interesting in this one.
Boys’ High Jump
The defending champion and the No. 1 seed in this event is Brockton’s Lucas Andrade. The versatile senior won last year’s event with a height of 6-6. He has an all-time best of 6-8, which he did to captured the Division I Championships during the outdoor season. Andrade was relatively consistent in this event last year, particularly during the winter where he cleared 6-4 six times and 6-6 twice. We don’t expect that to change. Andrade will be challenged, though. Algonquin’s Miles Lipka is the two seed with a best of 6-6.
Boys’ 55m
In the short sprint, Andrade again the gets the favorite nod. He struck gold at the Meet of Champions last February where he blazed to his current PR of 7.46, a time that earns him the No. 1 seed. Andrade will be looking to make it a two-peat this weekend, having won this race at last year’s meet. North Andover’s Ajani Muzasadila (6.57) and Algonquin’s Max Eigen (6.61) appear to be the speedy senior’s biggest threats.
Girls’ 2 Mile
It looks like we could have a 1-2-3 sweep by North Andover in this race with the senior trio of Nicole Kroon (11:03.09). Luna Prochazkova (11:32.85) and Hannah Shea (11:48.51) holding the top three seeds. Kroon showed great improvement during the outdoor season where she had a best of 11:03.09 at the Meet of Champions. Her best during indoor was 11:31.94 at the Coaches Invitational. Look for her to challenge the 11-minute mark.
Girls’ 4x400m
We could have a battle in the final event of the day with the top four seeds all under 4:30. Holding those spots are North Andover (4:22.0), Algonquin (4:23.0), Newton North (4:25.0) and Wachusett Regional (4:28.0).
