No surprises here.
As expected, Bay State athletes have delivered their share of standout performances over the last three days at the New Balance Nationals – and at Nike Indoor Nationals, too.
Two new state records have fallen, nine new state-leading marks have been established, and a slew of PRs, along with several school records, have been produced against the nation’s best.
Here’s a rundown of the highlights leading up to Sunday’s finals of the national meets.
THURSDAY
Lexington fell one place short of earning All-American honors in the 4×800-meter relay. The foursome of Cecilia Kvaal, Natalie Bielat, Mackenzie Callahan and Amelia Whorton combined for a time of 9 minutes, 13.23 seconds to place seventh overall. Whorton anchored the squad with a 2:11.68 split, while the other three legs ranged between 2:19 and 2:21. The Minutemen’s time is the fastest in the state since Brookline clocked 9:14.59 at the 2023 meet. Concord-Carlisle was 12th among the 50 teams with a time of 9:22.55.
In the boys race, Brookline was ninth with a fast 7:53.77. Comprising the quartet were Tony Carballo (1:59.67), Ibrahim Abdel-Dayem (2:00.51), Jonathan Traub (1:58.98) and Harry Flint (1:54.60).
Whitinsville Christian’s Emily Flagg produced one of the fastest indoor 5,000m performances ever by a Massachusetts athlete. The Crusader junior was ninth overall with a time of 16:52.19. Flagg was a model of consistency throughout the race with 200-meter splits generally ranging between 39 and 41 seconds. She went through 1,600 meters at 5:17.32 and hit 3,200 meters at 10:43.
Westford Academy’s Emily Wedlake was 29th overall in 17:28.68, just ahead of Lexington’s Jane Conrad, who finished 30th at 17:28.95.
In the wheelchair 800 meters, West Springfield’s Colton Robinson was just two seconds behind eventual winner Joel Tapia of Somerville (NJ). Robinson crossed the line in 2:40.42. Tapia set a new meet record of 2:38.25. In the girl’s race, Taunton’s Mary McDonald won and set a new personal best in the process. She lowered her time to 3:06.01, over a half second better than her winning time at the USATF New England Youth Invitational.
FRIDAY
Day 2 at New Balance was marked by a pair of milestone performances in the two-mile run.
Westford Academy’s Abigail Hennessy came within three seconds of the state record in the girls race. The Washington commit finished second overall with a PR of 9:52.55. Hennessy’s performance was just shy of the state record of 9:49.82 by former Belmont great Ellie Shea from the 2023 race.
Boston College High’s Greg McGrath moved to No. 4 on the all-time state rankings by placing 10th overall in the boys race. McGrath crossed the line in a PR of 8:56.42, an improvement of six seconds.
In the prelims of the 4×200-meter relay, Newton North came a half second from qualifying for the finals. The squad of Oliver Smith, George Rumkin, William Balerna and Logan Smith was timed in a season- and state-best 1:28.75, good for 18th overall.
Newton North also improved on its state-leading time in the girls race with a 1:44.02 clocking (45th overall). That quartet consisted of Isabell Mangada, Sophie Finkelstein, Brooke Bennett and Penny Blumenthal.
In the shot. Cohasset’s Nicholas Askjaer unleashed a nearly six-foot best of 65-5 to take second in the shot. Askjaer, who did not compete in any MSTCA or MIAA meets this season, had a previous best of 59-8.25 from the Rising Stars Youth Championships on March 6.
In the Boy’s Pentathlon, Lexington’s Simon Tandeih earned all-American status by fighting his way to sixth place throughout the day’s competition. We’re used to seeing him compete in the hurdles and long jump, but Tandeih also took on the Shot Put, High Jump, and 1000m. He ended his day with a 3:03.91 1000m to secure sixth overall. Tyson Stroope of Saint John’s Prep and Ryan McCormack of Natick placed in the top ten. In the girl’s Pentathlon, Mary Siewko of Masconomet and New England Elite finished eighth overall, and Milton’s Annaliese Aguilar finished 10th.
SATURDAY
Day 3 of New Balance featured our two state records.
Natick’s multiple state champion and record-holder Emmanuella Edozien of Natick inked her name in the books in the 60m hurdles. Edozien qualified for Sunday’s finals by racing to a new MA mark of 8.44 in her qualifying heat. The RedHawks senior dipped under the 2021 record of 8.49 by former Central Catholic standout Katherine Duren at the 2021 AAU Indoor Nationals.
In the triple jump, Catholic Memorial’s Amar Skeete leaped to an all-time state best of 49-11.5 in the triple jump. His near 50-footer placed him seventh in the talented field.
The girl’s 200m featured a trio of stars from the Bay State. Natick’s Chloe Elder ran an indoor PB of 24.64 after finishing ninth in the 400m prelims with a 55.46. Malden’s Khadijah Diagne ran a PR of 24.41 to better her own state record. In the end it was Sharon Senior Nina Kyei-Aboagye who ran away with the the state mark, running an indoor best of 24.11 to finish 12th and just miss the final. We look forward to watching all three compete against one another this outdoor season. In the boy’s 200m, Lincoln-Sudbury’s Nicholas Begic ran an indoor PB of 21.78.
At the Nike Indoor Nationals, Oliver Ames’ Lavender Kozaka moved to No. 1 in the rankings in the long jump. She was seventh overall with a PR of 19-3.75.
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One Response
Not sure if this is still being updated but why no coverage of the MA state champion in the weight throw getting All-American? Djoyce did a great job covering the field events in the previews but I feel like a lot of them get left out of the recaps. I saw BSR interviewing her at the podium (which never got posted) so not sure how it got overlooked