It was a classic mile race that produced a new meet record.
And Abby Hennessy was a big part of it.
The Westford Academy junior wasn’t able to earn the victory at the New Balance Nationals on Saturday. But the gifted runner certainly deserves plenty of kudos for turning the race into the fast and exciting competition it was during one of the finales of Day 3 at Franklin Field. Hennessy made the race honest by pushing the pace during the midway point, and then never let up. The WA standout remained in contention in the closing stages of the race and held on for an eventual third-place finish, smashing her previous state record by more than two seconds with a time of 4 minutes, 34.69 seconds! Paige Sheppard, a sophomore from Union Catholic (NJ), overtook top-seed Sadie Engelhardt with about 50 meters remining to earn the victory with a nation No. 2 and MR of 4:33.67. Engelhardt, the former indoor and outdoor national record-holder for the mile, was just strides ahead of Hennessey at 4:34.46.
Hennessy wasn’t the only Bay Stater to finish third and etch their name into the record books. Catholic Memorial sophomore Amar Skeete had the performance of his career in the triple jump. The recent winner of the Meet of Champions and New England’s leaped a huge PR with a milestone 50 feet, 5.25 inches. His 50-plus bronze-medal effort was a best by two feet and erased the 44-year-old state record of 50-4 by former Ayer star Neal Connor at the 1981 Keebler International Prep Invitational.
Natick’s Emmanuella Edozien came a tenth of a second from qualifying for the finals of the 100-meter hurdles. The Div. 1 and Meet of Champions’ victor was 11th overall in the semifinals with a time of 13.86. The top eight secured a place in the finals. Zakai Perkins of Milton also advanced to the semifinals in the hurdles with a time of 14.10 in the first round of the boys’ 110m HH. He clocked 14.15 in the semis.
Emerson Gould of Acton-Boxborough came close to her PR in the pole vault. Gould cleared 12 feet for the third straight meet with a height of 12-1.5, good for 15th overall. The Revolution senior has a best of 12-2 from her victory at the Meet Of Champions two weeks ago. She hit 12-feet even to take the Div. 1 title.
In the boys’ mile, five from the state dipped under 4:20. Marshfield’s Graham Heinrich led the quintet by placing 29th overall in 4:12.50. He was followed by Natick’s John Bianchi (37th, 4:13.78), Falmouth’s Silas Gartner (45th, 4:15.11). Falmouth Academy’s Nathan Gartner (4:16.96). and Lincoln-Sudbury’s Ethan Sholk (88th, 4:19.79).
Boston College High and Catholic Memorial both had solid performances in the 4x100m with the Eagles timed in 41.90 and the Warriors clocking 42.31.
Peabody’s Alex Jackson was 28th in the hammer (183-5), Lincoln Sudbury’s Gabrielle Pierre was 12th in the triple jump (39-9.25) and Natick’s Chloe Elder was 16th overall in the 400m (54.73).
