It wasn’t about the numbers on the clock. It was all about the points for Abby Hennessy.
Westford Academy’s ultra-talented senior wasn’t hoping to improve her already national-caliber times at Wednesday’s MIAA Division 2 Championships. Instead, Hennessy was perfectly content in holding back and ensuring that she was able to get the needed 20 points she was called upon to the 1,000-meter run and two mile.
For her and the rest of her teammates, the team title inside The TRACK at New Balance was the main focus. Kicking off a series of five straight divisional meets, that’s what the Ghosts were handed at the nighttime competition, courtesy of a 65-56 win over second-place Billerica.
For her part, Hennessy did her part with victories in her respective events, clocking 2:50.22 for the 1,000m and 10:56.21 for the two mile.
“We really wanted to win a state title, and I just wanted to make sure I could score points and stay competitive,” Hennessy said after her races. “This is the year to go for it. We’ll see how the relays turn out. I think it’s going to be close with Billerica.”
As it turned out, the relays made a subtle difference. Neither team scored in the 4x200m or 4x400m, but they finished 1-2 in the 4x800m. Billerica claimed that race in 9:39.27, while Westford Academy followed in 9:44.52 with Hennessy running the opening leg.
On the boys’ side, every point (and every second) made a difference as Hopkinton edged Concord-Carlise by a half a point with a 69.5-69 decision over the Patriots. The Hillers solidified their victory on the last event, placing second in 3:30.47 to Concord-Carlisle’s 3:31.97 performance. Timewise, a mere 1.5 seconds earned Hopkinton the hardware.
Hennessey’s dual victories served as a suitable warmup for what’s instore this weekend when the multiple all-stater and All American travels to Boston University for the BU Valentine Invitational. The University of Washington commit is entered in the 3,000m for Saturday’s competition.
Back in mid January, Hennessy ran a nation No. 2 of 9:15.79 at the UW Preview in Washington. She followed that performance with a indoor PR of 4:38.70 to take second at the Millrose Games.
“I am really excited for this 3K because in the 3K in January I went through (the mile) in 5:05 and closed in like 4:52 pace the second 1,400 meters. I am really excited to go out faster n a competitive 3K and see what I can do.”
Westford Academy claimed two other victories in the meet with Madeleine O’Lalor clearing 5 feet, 4 inches in the high jump and Katelyn Boatkye leaping 18-1.5 in the long jump. The two teammates scored additional points with Boatkye placing fourth in the 55m dash (7.38) and O’Lalor taking eighth in the 55m hurdles (9.33).
The Ghosts also had contributions from Emily Wedlake in the mile (third, 5:06.10), and Diya Shrestha in the two mile (11:38.98),
Malden’s sensational freshman Khadijah Diagne strengthened her grip on the state lead in the 300m, blazing to a meet-record 38.25. The performance ranks No. 15 nationally and fifth among freshmen across the country.
Sharon’s Nina Kyei-Aboagye became the first sprinter under seven seconds this season in the 55m dash, clocking a PR of 6.99. Diagne was second in 7.11.
Hopkinton managed just one individual victory on the day, but it was a big one. Harry Millar led a 1-2 finish in the 55m hurdles with a state-best 7.45, while teammate Jacob Logan followed in 7.75.
Despite the lone win, the Hillers piled up valuable points with strong placements throughout the meet. Sean Finnegan earned a pair of runner-up finishes in the mile (4:26.63) and two mile (9:33.30).
In a tightly contested 300m where just .12 separated the top three Hopkinton’s Ian Weilding (35.66) and Iago Ferreira (35.71) placed second and third behind Concord-Carlisle’s Cooper Balfour, who won in 35.59.
Hopkinton also added five points in the shot put from Ryan Morin, who placed fourth with a throw of 46-2.5. The Hillers were third in the 4x200m (1:31.65) and second in the 4x400m (3:30.47).
Concord-Carlisle picked up additional victories from Toby Martel in the 1,000m (2:34.72), Jackson Misek in the two mile (9:32.11), and the 4x800m relay (8:09.29).
Bridgewater-Raynham’s Caiden Blake captured back-to-back 600m titles with a personal-best 1:23.95.
In the long jump, state leader Amar Skeete of Catholic Memorial soared to 23-2.5 for the win, leading a 1-2-6 finish for the Knights. Jelani Semper was second at 22-2, and Ramar Thomas placed sixth at 21-0.5.
