From start to finish, expect each event to create some excitement at Saturday’s MIAA Meet of Champions. With the state’s best taking center stage, would you expect anything different? Throughout the week, we’ll preview all the individual events. Here we feature the girls’ relays, which includes the 4x200m, 4x400m and 4x800m.
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4×200-Meter Relay
As always, this race has the potential to come down to the wire, with the winner determined by fractions of a second.
Newton North’s squad of Sophie Finklestein, Isabella Mangada, Peggy Blumenthal and Brooke Bennett became the first team under 1:45 this season, capturing the Division 1 title this past Sunday with a state-best 1:44.91. The top-seeded Tigers won’t have it easy, though. Just over a second separates the top four teams in this race, with Needham (1:45.22), Milton (1:45.34) and Wachusett (1:45.96) all firmly in contention.
In a race this tight, clean handoffs could make all the difference.
4×400-Meter Relay
The four-minute barrier has yet to be broken this season. We believe that changes on Saturday.
The top two seeds – Central Catholic and Newton North, the 1-2 finishers at the recent Div. 1 Championships- may have the best chance to make it happen. The winning Raiders quartet of Kyla Breslin, Emma Finch, Leighton Hickey and Avery Stricker clocked a state-best 4:01.44, while the Tigers’ foursome of Amelia Alvazzi, Lauren Signoriel, Eden Dunleavy and Ela Budzinski finished in 4:02.01.
Franklin (4:07.30), Bedford (4:07.70) and Concord-Carlisle (4:09.58) should also ensure this one stays competitive.
4×800-Meter Relay
Billerica enters as the favorite.
The Indians raced to a state-leading 9:18.58 at the MSTCA Div. 2 Relays and are coming off a victory at the Div. 2 Championships. The squad consists of Kylie Donahue, Caitlyn Donahue, Maya Niles and Evelyn Wesling.
Concord-Carlisle (9:31.42), Wachusett Regional (9:35.83), Franklin (9:36.38) and Newton South (9:41.67) are among the other strong contenders in what should be a deep and tactical race.
Don’t ignore Westford Academy, too. The Ghosts are ranked No. 7 in this race with a time of 9:44.52. That’s the time they ran to finish second to Billerica at the Div. 2 meet. Distance ace Abby Hennessy is on Westford squad and will be coming one race, unlike the two she ran at the divisionals. She’ll be well rested for a very fast leg.
