New Year, New Meet. Trials of Miles racing will be hosting a new meet at the Track at New Balance. The Nor’Easter Invitational features athletes from around New England, as well as some prominent track and field stars from the Bay State. The meet will be streamed live on Runnerspace. Girls compete on Saturday. Boys on Sunday.
Girls 2 Mile
Whether you’re trackside or watching from home, the girls 2 Mile may bring a sense of déjà vu from the Cross Country season. The girls from Lexington are racing and our guess is they’re coming to run fast. After a lengthy XC season, it’s that point in the season where they should be rested and ready to roll. Jance Conrad, Isabella Gorospe, Ella Tyson, Erin Ehmann, Meghan Caldera, Alycia Charest, and Callie Glenn will represent the Minutewomen. Conrad is coming off an 11th place finish at NXR and holds a PR of 10:38. Also watch out for Middlesex League rival Riley Powell of Melrose.
Girls Weight Throw
While the distance events typically come to mind with Lexington, this season Ainsley Cuthbertson has been the star. If you’ve never watched the Weight Throw, we suggest you make your way over and watch Cuthbertson. She’s already smashed the previous state record of 52-9, held by Kate Powers of Hopkinton. In fact, she’s out thrown that every attempt this year. Her current PR, and state record, stands at 56-3.75. She’s already made a strong case for athlete of the year. Tune in to the Shot Put as well, where she’ll battle top thrower Emiline Boyer of Melrose.
Girls 600m
The six features the state #6 runner in Riley Earle of Duxbury. She enters as one of seven athletes that have cracked 1:40, at 1:39.93. Tanvi Mehta, the state #11 at 1:40.52. will look to join her in the top ten. Also running in the seeded heat are Maeve Gavin of Westwood, Emma Drago of Melrose, and Ivette Burgos Vellon of Chicopee.
Boys Hurdles
The Boys 55m Hurdles feature state #1 Jared Mighty. He’s the top overall returner from last season and has already ripped a 7.54, the best mark by almost two tenths of a second. Simon Tandeih of Lexington is also in the field. He currently holds the third fastest time in the state at 7.72. Mighty will also compete in heat 35 of the 300m. He is currently #10 in the Bay State with his PR of 35.93.
Boys 600m
Like the girls’ race, the boy’s 600m also features some top athletes from Massachusetts. It also features another Earle from Duxbury. Connor Earle has the fourth fastest time in the state at 1:24.82 and he will feature in the seeded heat of the 600m. There he will face Brockton’s Abdiel Snelling, who sits at #7 in the state with 1:25.28.
Boys LJ
The Knights of Catholic Memorial will be in the house to put on a show Sunday. They have three jumpers in the state top ten, and all will be jumping this weekend. They’re led by State #1 and National #7 ranked jumper Amar Skeete, who holds a current best of 23’10.5”. He’ll be joined by #4 Jameson Booker, 21’10”, and #10 Jelani Semper, 21’7”. Booker holds an outdoor best of 23’0.25” and is also one of the state’s best sprinters. Lexington’s hurdle ace, Simon Tandeih, is also jumping this weekend is ranked #9 in the state at 21’7.25”.
Other Top Contenders to keep an eye on:
The Brockton Boys 4x400m made an aggressive statement by opening the season with a 3:27.33 on December 8th, a time that would have ranked ninth overall last indoor season. Since then, they’ve run 3:25.92. The crazy thing is they’ve run a different line up for their top four times. There’s little doubt they have a special group this season so stick around to till the end of the meet to see what they do.
Ari Levine of Hopedale will be throwing this weekend. He was recently overtaken for the top spot in the state by Oliver Ames Mitchell Callender, with a throw of 59’1.5”. Levine has yet to crack 60 feet indoors. Now is a better time than ever.
