Throughout the next few weeks, Bay State Running will be putting the spotlight on some of the top performances of the outdoor track and field season. While we’ve had our share of showstoppers over the past few months, these are the moments that we feel stood out the most and left the biggest impression.
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When it comes to memorable performances, where do you even start with an athlete like Abby Hennessy? One of the most prolific distance runners the state has ever seen, Hennessy closed out her high school career with a season overflowing with highlight-reel performances.
To no one’s surprise, Hennessy was the state’s leader in events ranging from the 800-meter run to the two-mile. In each event, she produced personal-best efforts, including state-record performances that ranked No. 4 nationally in both the mile (4 minutes, 33.18 seconds) and two-mile (9:50.72). Along the way, the University of Washington commit earned major victories in the mile at the Penn Relays Carnival and Track Night NYC, the 3,200 meters at the Arcadia Invitational, and the mile and two-mile at the MIAA Meet of Champions and a runner-up finish in the mile at the New Balance Nationals. She did it with performances ranging from state marks of 4:33.18 at New Balance and 9:50.72 in the two-mile at the MIAA Division 2 Championships.
What do we consider the best of them all for Hennessy? We have several remarkable performances worthy of that distinction. Her victory at Arcadia, perhaps one of the premier meets in the country, ranks right up there. Don’t overlook what she did at the prestigious Penn Relays in late April or at New Balance Nationals, where she dipped under the meet record alongside individual winner Sianni Wynn of New Jersey.
All are worthy. All could stand alone as THE performance of the year. But the one we feel deserves the top billing occurred at Merrimack College on May 29, Day 1 of the MIAA Division 2 Championships. In our opinion, it’s hard to argue with a national-caliber solo performance in which she ran away from the field and won by nearly 30 seconds.
