While a some of our top athletes elected to forgo the New England Championships to prep for the upcoming nationals, a few made the long trip to Bangor, Me., for the 76th annual event on Saturday.
Among the MA entries, five athletes returned back to the Bay State with a regional titles from the six-plus hour meet.
Methuen’s Darwin Jimenez, last week’s 100-meter titlist at the Meet of Champions, was again the quickest in the short dash. Jimenez continued his consistency in the 100m by blazing to a time of 10.66. It was his third straight sub 10.7 clocking. Saint John’s Emmanuel Mahoney just missed a spot on the podium, placing seventh with a best of 11.08.
After finishing third at the MOC, Dedham shot-putter Catherine Sargent took over the state’s No. 1 spot in the girls’ rankings with PB and winning toss of 44 feet, 3 inches. Newton North’s Skye Petrie-Cameron, the MOC individual titlist, was third overall with a heave of 41-0.50. Sargent was also third in the discus with a distance of 132-0. That effort improved her previous state-leader from the MOC by nearly four feet.
Jacob Cookinham was dominant in the boys’ shot with an outdoor best of 66-0.25. In all six of his attempts, the Bishop Stang senior went further than 60 feet, including four that were 65-plus! Theo Puterbaugh of Parker Charter was fifth overall at 56-6.50. Puterbaugh matched that placement in the discus with a toss of 160-3.
Westborough’s Melinda Haagensen had another 12-footer in the pole vault, earning her first New England title by clearing 12-3. In four of her last five meets, Haagansen has exceeded the 12-foot mark, including her PR of 12-7 from the Division 3 Championships.
North Reading junior Katie Caraco, a runner-up in the high jump at the MOC, had the biggest performance of her career by taking her speciality with a PB of 5-5.
Lexington (third, 9:23.64) and Weymouth (fifth, 9:38.88) earned spots on the podium in the girls’ 4x800m relay.
In the boys’ triple jump, MOC winner Zyeem Charles of Attleboro placed third with a leap of 44-5. Carver’s Camren Allain was fourth in the high jump at 6-3.
