The first day of this weekend’s New Balance Nationals produced the state’s first two All Americans.
Recent New England 1,600-meter champion Nathaniel Assa was second overall in the 5K. The Marblehead senior raced to a PR of 14 minutes, 25.19 seconds. He was less than five seconds behind Noah Bontrager of Shipshewana (IN), who won with a meet record of 14:20.89. Bontrager held a slight lead over Assa throughout the race and was able to secure the gold with a 1:01.53 split for his final 400m. Assa was timed in an equally impressive 1:02.12.
The foursome of Emma Daley, Gracie Richard, Kate Carnes, and Isabella Galusha of Weymouth also made All American with a sixth-place finish. The Wildcats were timed in 21:21.88.
Boston College High’s quartet of Owen Geagan, John Wilson, Greg McGrath, and Shamus Larnard were seventh overall in the boys’ race at 17:29.22
Division 1 and MOC winner Alex Jackson of Peabody was 12th in the discus with a toss of 183 feet, 10 inches.
