Conference and League Championships offer the perfect preview for the upcoming divisional championships next week. For some they’re a tune up for their primary event, for others they’re a last chance to get a qualifying mark. Let’s take a look some of the top performances over the last week.
55m and 300m
Essex North Shore Agricultural and Tech’s Makaio Bey produced a state leading 6.44 to win the Cape Anne League. It’s perfect timing as the boys 55m is shaping up to be one of the more unpredictable races. While he didn’t PR, top contender Ryan Pulpi took home gold in the 55m (6.49) and 300m (34.11) at the Middlesex League Championship.
Lincoln-Sudbury’s Nichaolas Begic ran a PR of 34.29 in the 300m to take the Dual County League Championships, setting up a showdown at the Meet of Champs we’ve been hyping since the season started. Pulpi vs Begic in the 300m.
Defending 55m Champ Nina Kyei-Aboagye of Sharon is rounding into form, as she ran PRs in both the 55m (7.01) and 300m (39.50) at the Hockomock Championships. She’ll have her work cut out for her in both events as she still trails Lauren Quarm in the 55m and Khadijah Diagne and Chloe Elder in the 300m. Will we see sub 7 this season?
600m
Sean Parnham of Norton, Connor Earle of Duxbury, and Denzel Kisekka of Lowell all won their respective leagues in PRS and State #2, 3, and 4 times, and join Arlington’s Nico Peukert as they only runners under 1:23.
However, it was Natick’s Chloe Elder making the most noise, running a US#16 , 1:34.37, to take the Bay State Conference. Second Place? Penny Blumenthal ran a US#23, 1:35.20, for an over two second PR. It’s be interesting to see if Elder runs both 300m and 600m at states.
1000m
The theme of the week was fast 1Ks. A few hours after awarding Abby Hennessy Athlete of the Week, she went out and soloed a US#4 1000m in 2:46.44 to win the Dual Country Championships. When entries are posted for Divisionals and Meet of Champs, Coaches and Athletes will be checking to see where she’s competing.
Hot off the press, Shane Leslie of Billerica ran a US#9 1000m of 2:28.98 to take the Merrimack Valley Conference and is the first boy under 2:30 this season. We don’t expect that to be the case for long. Michael Mohoric of Newburyport and Harry Flint of Brookline, ran near identical times of 2:30:03 and 2:30.10 to win their leagues. Keep an eye on what all three decide to run this post season.
55m Hurdles:
Brockton’s Jared Mighty has had a strong hold on the hurdles all season. Things just got a lot more interesting though, as Attleboro’s Fareed Oseni and Hopkinton’s Harry Millar both dipped under 7.60, running 7.54 and 7.58, setting a showdown at the Meet of Champs.
Long Jump
Southeastern Regional’s Giovani Ribeiro became the fifth jumper over 23 feet this season. He won the EMAC Conference with a state #3 jump of 23-3.75. He’ll do his best this post season to help prevent a Catholic Memorial Sweep like we saw a Coaches.
Lia Beatrice of Swampscott jumped a state #2 18-5 at the NEC Week #6 Meet. (Unclear if this was a championship meet.) All the same, she puts her name in the mix for contenders in the Long Jump this season.
