Despite the weather outside, the action has continued to heat up this season. As we march closer and closer to the championship phase of the season, performances have gotten all the more impressive. Once again out athletes made it incredibly difficult to choose one, but we did our best.
Girls:
With multiple invitationals this weekend, there were a handful of performances that stood out. But before any of those even started, Natick’s Chloe Elder ran a US #20 600m at a Bay State Conference Meet during the week. Her time of 1:35.48 was a massive PR, and an impressive display of range. At the MSTCA State Coaches Invitational, she ran a US #24 300m, finishing in 39.01. Despite the blazing time, she would be runner up in the 300. Which brings us two our next two top performers, or finalists, this week.
It came down to a veteran talent who has already etched her name in history and new star that most likely will have her name in the history books as well. At the Track at New Balance, Westford Academy’s Abby Hennessy took part in the Junior International Mile. While the race proved to be tactical, the racers still produced the top five times in the country. Hennessy would finish in 4:40.87, for third overall, and a US #3. While it’s hard to beat that, we decided to go with another athlete.
Malden’s Khadijah Diagne has taken the Bay State by storm this season, producing top marks every step of the way. However, she reached a new level this weekend, winning the State Coaches 300 in a new Meet Record and US#14, 38.60. (Elder also broke the previous record as well) The former record was held by Dennis-Yarmouth great, Brianna Braham, who finished the year running 38.00. Perhaps a sign of what’s to come? Diagne also finished third overall in the 55m, running a PR of 7.15, so she’s no slouch there either. However, we look forward to seeing what she can do in the 300m the rest of the way. For her record-breaking performance, Khadijah Diagne is our athlete of the week!
Boys:
For the boys this week we’re going to focus on the MSTCA Coaches Invitational. There were three athletes that stood out for our purposes. Reading’s Ryan Pulpi has been at the top of the state rankings all season. His current 300m PR of 34.04 is currently a US #3. However, he had his best overall performance this weekend by winning the 55m, 300m, and 4x400m alongside his Reading teammates. His winning time of 6.46 was a state #2 and PR. Keep an eye on Pulpi the rest of the season, as he’s within reach of the 300m state record,
The title of Athlete of the Week came down to two top nationally ranked performances. Catholic Memorial’s Amar Skeete is no stranger to the spotlight or national rankings. He was an all-American last spring in the triple jump. He had his best performance of the indoor season this past Saturday, jumping an astonishing 24’3” in the Long Jump. His leap is currently a US #4. It also happens to be ¾ of an inch off the Indoor State Record. There’s a very good chance that by season’s end, Skeete has both the Triple and Long Jump Indoor Records.
Boston College High School’s Greg McGrath had a few standout performances this fall, notably his #2 all time performance at Wrentham over 5K. This winter he’s kept a lower profile, racing sparingly, leaving us asking when, not if, he would turn in big performance. That came on Saturday, when he ran away from the 2 Mile field, running a US #2 and Meet Record of 9:02.95. It wasn’t just the record, but who he took it from. The former record of 9:06.94 from 1998, was held by Andy Powell of Oliver Ames, and now head coach at the University of Washington. If you’re not familiar with his running credentials, go back and read our legends of the fall article on him. Just know that’s a legacy worth more than any rankings. What’s next for McGrath? Sub 9? A state record? Who knows. For now, he’s our Athlete of the Week.
