We’re halfway through January and things are starting to heat up as athletes to start to sharpen up for the post season. That said, we still some new records last week, and some performances that were very close.
Girls Athlete of the Week
Once again, the girls of the Bay State made it incredibly difficult to choose one athlete. With the Relays dominating the weekend, there were countless top performances and new state leading times. The highlight had to be the Billerica Quartet of Evelyn Wesling, Maya Niles, and Caitlyn and Kylie Donahue, running a US #2 4x800m of 9:18.58. Lexington, Concord-Carlisle, and Wellesley all cracked the top 20 as well.
There were still some phenomenal individual performances. Masconomet Regional’s Mara Siewko launched a massive personal best in the Long Jump. In a dual meet at Gloucester High School, the junior jumped 19’2”, for a new state lead, and the athlete first over 19 feet.
However, there were two performances that stood out. Two Massachusetts athletes set new US #1s in their respective events. Westford Academy’s Abby Hennessy traveled across the Country to her future home at the University of Washington. She wasn’t there for sight-seeing though. She finished fifth overall at the UW Preview in the 3000m, for a nation leading 9:15.79.
As amazing as that was, we decided to hand our second Athlete of the Week honor to Ainsley Cuthbertson. The Lexington star has been incredible all season but somehow found a way to level up. On Monday, she broke her own state record in the Hammer Throw by tossing a US #1 57’9.75”. We’ve been on record watch whenever Ainsley competes all season. She followed that performance up, with another great showing at the Division 1 Relay Meet. There she threw a new state lead in the shot put with a throw of 42’8.5”. Congratulations Ainsley!
Boys Athlete of the Week
It was a similar situation with the boys last week. There were some standout performances across the weekend. One of the top relay performances came from outside the relay championships. The Catholic Memorial Quartet of Jameson Booker, Jelani Semper, Ramar Thomas, and John Marrero ran a new state #1 in the 4x200m at a Catholic Conference Meet. The speedsters combined for a New Balance National Qualifying mark of 1:29.63. At the Division 1 Relays, Lowell captured the title in the 4x800m in a US #7 8:01.68. Brookline and Andover joined them in the top 20.
However, there were two individual performances that caught our attention last week. Reading’s Ryan Pulpi has been inching closer to the 34 second barrier all season. At last week’s Middlesex League meet Pulpi ran 34.04 for 300m to move within one tenth of a second of the state record set last year. As we mentioned in our season preview, Reese Connors 33.94 might not see its first birthday. Pulpi’s time currently ranks 22nd nationally.
In the end we decided to go with another thrower. Oliver Ame’s Mitchell Callendar had a phenomenal week. Not only did he crack 60 feet for the first time; he did it twice. At the Hockomock League meet last week, Callendar crushed the barrier and threw a US #7, 62’7.25”. He followed that up with another 60-foot performance at the Division Three Relays. This is only his first indoor season. After finishing third at last spring’s Meet of Champions, Calendar has emerged as the favorite in the shot put. Congratulations Mitchell!
