Based on what transpired this past weekend at the MIAA Meet of Champions (MOC) and throughout the spring campaign, the postseason looks promising for our MA track & field athletes.
Day 2 of the MOC on Saturday continued the momentum from two days earlier at Fitchburg State University.
After winning the two mile on Thursday during Day 1, St. John’s Prep’s Nathan Lopez told BSR he was hoping to get the triple by taking the mile and winning the 4×800-meter relay with his teammates. He accomplished the goal in impressive fashion. A year after getting edged at the line in the mile by Nashoba Regional’s Freddy Collins, the Eagle standout was on the other end of a close encounter, finishing less than a half second ahead of Waltham’s Brendan Wilder with a winning time of 4 minutes, 12.99 seconds. Wilder clocked 4:13.44 for second, a PR by nearly three seconds! The University of Michigan commit finished off his day by anchoring the school’s 4x800m squad to a winning time of 7:52.13. The Eagles foursome, which also included Paul Lovett, Nick MacDonald and Daniel Padley, were just ahead of runner-up Natick (7:53.18).
Franklin’s Sarah Dumas, Hopkinton’s Sean Golemblewski, and Newton South’s Amelia Everett also finished what they started from Thursday.
Dumas, who won the pentathlon two days earlier, was lights out in the 100m hurdles where she improved on her state-leader with a time of 14.37. Newton North’s Kiran George was also at her best in taking runner-up honors in 14:53. Golemblewski swept the boys’ hurdles. The recent 400m IH champion, struck gold in the 110m HH, too. The senior standout was timed in 14:49.
Everett, the 800m titlist from Day 1, beat a talented field in the mile with a triumphant 4:54.02. The Stanford signee fended off Wellesley’s Charlotte Tuxbury, who crossed the line with a two-second best of 4:55.89 for second overall, the same placement she earned in the 800m on Thursday. As for Everett, her two victories make seven individual crowns in her storied career. She also has been on two winning relay squads.
Finishing off an unbeaten season in the 100m dash in-state, Methuen’s Darwin Jimenez finished what he started with a victorious 10.66. As expected, he had to hold off strong efforts by Wellesley’s Christopher Brooks and Newton North’s Everton Muir at the finish line. Brooks was timed in 10.69. He was just ahead of Muir, who clocked 10.73. Pembroke’s Sarah Clafin inched closer to a sub-12 in the girls’ race, breaking the tape in a PR of 12.01. Framingham’s Abby Desmarias was second at 12.23.
Last week’s Division 1 400m winners were front and center on Saturday. Malden’s Johnny Emmanuel won the boys’ crown in 49.32, while Cambridge Rindge & Latin’s Kylee Bernard made it two in a row wit a time of 55.38.
Bishop Feehan’s Jon Mignacca continued his succsfu season in the high jump by leaping 6-6. In the shot. Jacob Cookinham was a victor with a distance of 65-8. He currently ranks No. 7 in the country with a best of 65-11.
