Division 5 Championship-Boys
Site/Location: Bridgewater State University Friday 3″00PM 6/29, Sunday 6/30 2:30PM
Teams: – Apponequet Regional, Arlington Catholic, Belchertown, Bellingham, Bishop
Fenwick, Blue Hills Regional Tech, Cape Cod Reg Tech, Cardinal Spellman, Cathedral,
Chicopee, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional, Dighton-Rehoboth Regional, Dover-Sherborn, Fairhaven,
Fontbonne Academy, High School of Commerce, Holyoke, Hudson, Joseph Case, Lowell
Catholic, Lynnfield, Martha’s Vineyard Reg, Medway, Nantucket, Nipmuc Regional, Norfolk
County Agricultural, North Reading, Norton, Norwell, Notre Dame Academy-Worcester,
Oakmont Regional, Old Rochester Regional, Pentucket Regional, Pioneer Valley Christian
Academy, Pittsfield, Pope Francis Preparatory, Quabbin Regional, Saint Mary’s, Saint Paul
Diocesan Jr/Sr, Salem, Saugus, South Shore Reg Voc-Tech, Stoneham, Swampscott, Taconic,
Triton Regional, Ursuline Academy, Weston, Whitinsville Christian, Wilmington, Winthrop.
Top Boys Events to Watch: 110mH: Old Rochester Regional’s Malik Washburn’s quest for a state tilte starts in Bridgewater. Washburn has the #1 time in the state at 14.27. He was runner up indoors over 55m. Can he flip the script this post season? 400m: Only two runners have cracked 49 seconds this season and Blue Hills Regional’s Jiai Gonzales has done it three times. He enters the championship season with a best of 48.44. Triple Jump: Weston’s Oscar Torres is tied for third in the state this season with a jump of 47’1″. He enters the Division 5 meet with over a foot on the #2 seed. 10 points here will be crucial as Weston challenges for the team title. High Jump: Stoneham’s Weston Bunnell enters as the top seed in Division 5 at 6’7″. He ranks #4 in the state at the moment. A PR hear could catapult him up the rankings and put him in contention at next week’s meet of champions. 800m: This could be one of the best races of the day as four boys are entered at 1:58 and another six 2:00 or better. Weston’s Mathew Fitzgibbon is the #2 seed here with a best of 1:58.52. He’s also the #1 seed in the mile. Oakmont’s Jayden Brostrom has the top time in the field at 1:58.49.
Team Battle: Based off rankings, Weston appears to have the advantage, but Division 5 may be one of the tightest races when it comes to the team title. Dover-Sherborn had a strong performance at the Division 5 Relays, winning by over 30 points. Usual suspects North Reading should be in the mix, and don’t count on Old Rochester Regional.
Top Girls Events to Watch: Mile: The four lap classic features both Flagg sisters. Abby has the best PR in the field, with a best of 4:55. While her sister Emily prefers the two mile, she’s the #1 seed there, she’s no slouch over the shorter event with a best of 5:08. However, both will have to watch out for Weston Freshmen, Leski Sullivan, who is coming off a huge PR of 5:01.07 at the Dual County League Championships. Also keep an eye out for Notre Academy-Worcester’s Maddie Wilson. She will compete in the wheelchair division over the mile and two mile. Maddie enters with bests of 5:11.70 and 10:45.70! 800m: Three girls are entered under 2:20 and they’re all freshmen or sophomores! Previously mentioned Leski Sullivan is the top seed at 2:18.32. But she’ll have Phoebe Cowles of Old Rochester Regional and Annabelle Averett of Swampscott on her heels. 400m: Holyoke’s Yasani Thompson is the top seed in both the 200m and 400m, but it’s the full lap that we’re most excited about. Thompson enters with a recent best of 57.58, good enough for ninth in the state. She’ll have to contend with Dover-Sherborn sophomore Julia Ritchey. The middle distance star has a best of 58.71, but has run 2:14 for 800m, so she is not someone you want closing in the final 100m. 400mH: If you watch one race it should be this. It features the #1, 3, and 4 runners in the state. Weston’s Solana Varela is undefeated this season and holds the top time in the state at 1:01.11. (She’s also the top seed in the 100m Hurdles). She’ll face of against the aforementioned Julia Ritchey, who’s run 1:02.36. Also undefeated. And Cardinal Spellman’s Abigail Clark, who won state coaches in 1:02.38. Make sure you have a good angle on the starting line.
Team Outlook: It’s hard to pick against Weston. They’re deep and have individuals that could walk away with over 10 points. It’s hard to overlook the dominant showing North Reading had at the Division 5 Relays.
