Before we begin, we’d like to stress one thing. There are multiple events at the Division State Championships that could be on this list. After all, the best of the best in each division have earned their right to compete on the big stage. We’d like to congratulations all of these fine athletes that will be competing this weekend. Your hard work and your dedication to this great sport has paid off. Well done!
So, without further adieu, here’s our pics for the five girls and five boys events that we consider the top ones to watch in Division 5 at Bridgewater State University on Friday and Sunday.
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GIRLS
400m hurdles /400m (Friday at 5:20 p.m./Sunday at 5:10 p.m.)
This 400-meter hurdles features one of our state’s most versatile athletes and the best in this event this spring with Giuliano Ligor on the line. The North Reading junior blazed to a state-leading 1 minute, 0.2 seconds to take top honors at the Weston Twilight Invitational a few weeks ago. Finishing second in that race was Weston’s Sloan Hinton with a time of 1:02.59, an effort that currently ranks No. 3 in the state. While we’re giving Ligor the favorite nod here, this one could get close. The North Reading standout has indicated a goal of breaking 60 seconds and make a stab at the current state mark of 59.52. It may not happen this weekend, but we could have a time close to that minute barrier. In the 400m, Ligor is also the No. 1 seed with her best of 56.58, which he did an hour after her 400m IH victory at Weston. This time she’ll have two days rest after the hurdles for 400m. That leads us to believe she’s capable to getting in the 55s this weekend. She’ll have the competition to push her with next four seeds in the race with bests under a minute. Those athletes include Whitnsville Christian’s Avery Glidden (58.24), Weston’s Sloan Hinton (59.39), Cardinal Spellman’s Abigail Clark (59.54) and Braham (59.85).
Mile (Sunday at 4:40 p.m.)
With a seed time that is at least 10 seconds faster than her next rival, we’re not expecting anything less than a victory from Kaylie Dalgar in this event. The question is will she go for a possible sub-5 on Sunday or save her best for the Meet of Champions the following week. Dalgar was a winner at the MSTCA Twilight Invitational on May 10 with an indoor best of 5:03.46. She followed that effort with a victory at the Cape Ann League Championships where she cruised to a very-convincing victory with a time of 5:04.87, a race she won by 26 seconds! We’re expecting Dalgar to have some company around her for the first few laps. Will it be enough to push her to a fast time this Sunday in what we expect might be a solo effort the second half of the race? During indoor, Dalgar came close to breaking five minutes, placing fifth at the New England’s in 5:00.51. We know she’s capable of the milestone.
200m dash (Friday at 5 p.m.)
This one should be close with the winner determined in the final few meters of the race. Holding the No. 1 seed is Norton’s Jillian Strynar, who has a best of 25.31. Three more in the field have also dipped under 26 seconds with Dennis Yarmouth’s Breanna Braham (25.54), Bellingham’s Olivia Carney (25.54) and Katelyn Maniero (25.90) also expected to answer the gun.
4x100m Relay (Sunday at 6:30 p.m.)
We’re not expecting much breathing room between our top squads in this race. Just about a second separates the first four seeds with Weston at the No. 1 spot with a time of 49.93. North Reading (50.08), Medway (50.49) and Dennis Yarmouth (50.95) are not too far behind. This one could come down to the wire!
Triple Jump/Long Jump (Friday at 3 p.m./Sunday at 3 p.m.)
Norwell’s Lilianna MacDonald is the top seed in both events and the individual we expect to win them. Why? Because she always performs at her best when the championship season rolls around. MacDonald has PRs of 38-10 in the triple jump and 18-7.25 in the long jump.
BOYS
400m, 200m, triple jump (Sunday at 5;20 p.m./Friday at 5:10 p.m./Friday at 5 p.m.)
Like several of our track & field athletes who do multiple events, it’s going to be a busy weekend for Norwell’s Noah Mulligan. He’s entered in all three of the above events and in all three he also happens to be the No. 1 seed. The Clippers junior is one of our state’s best when it comes to the 400m. He’s one of just three runners in MA that have broken 49 seconds with his PR of 48.57 from the MSTCA Twilight Invitational. In this race on Sunday, he’ll be matched with four others that have clocked times in the 50-second range, including two seed Michael Veegh of Bishop Stang (50.46). The 200m should be a very competitive race. Mulligan is one of seven that have dipped under 23 seconds with his best of 22.35. Pentucket’s Joel Spaulding is at No. 2 with a time of 22.38. Finally, we have the triple jump where Mulligan’s PR of 45-11 from his victory at the MSTCA Twilight Invitational is two-feet further than the next seed.
110m hurdles (Sunday at 4:10 p.m.)
This is an event that could intense at the Meet of Champions next weekend. As of now, 16 hurdlers have run faster than 15 seconds. Old Rochester’s Archelus Wesner is one of them. His best of 14.78 ranks No. 10 in the state. On Sunday, Wesner’s toughest rival could be his own teammate, Calder Cook, who is the two seed with a best of 15.14.
High jump (Sunday at 4:30 p.m.)
One of the state’s top leapers is in this event with St. Mary’s Scott Amin in the field. Amin ranks No. 2 in MA with a best of 6-6. Six in the field are tied at 6-2. This might be where the real competition ends up being. Who will get second?
100m dash (Sunday at 4:30 p.m.)
Prepare for a close one here. The top three seeds have all gone under 11 seconds, and are separated by just one hundredth of second. That trio includes Winthrop’s Nicholas Cappuccio (10.84). Seekonk’s Maddoz Bo (10.84), and Pentucket’s Joel Spaulding (10.85).
