Boys
It was only a matter of time. Ryan Pulpi of Reading had flirted with the 34 second barrier, and along with it, the state record, all season long. At the Division 3 State Championships at the Track at New Balance, he obliterated both, running 33.39, for a US #8. One event wasn’t enough, as Pulpi helped secure 30 points for Reading as he took the 55m, in a PR and MA #1, 6.40, and ran a leg on their winning 4x400m relay. The Rockets would prevail on the day, defeating runner up Walpole by 8.50 points, 55 to 46.50.
Andrew Princic scored a crucial eight points in a tough battle for second in the two mile. Oliver Ame’s Landon Sarney ran away with the race early while a pack formed that would determine the rest of the scorers. Princic didn’t force the issue, coming through 1618m in 4:58.58, he would go on to secure second place in 9:52.88. Sarney took the win in 9:33.76 and earned 10 points for the Tigers who finished fourth overall. Also scoring for Reading were Max King, 5th place in the Mile, Cameron Gigler, 6th place in 600m, Michael Caraco, 5th place in the Long jump, and perhaps most impressive, their 4x200m relay placed 3rd overall, without their star sprinter in the lineup.
The surprise of the day may have been Greater Lowell Tech, finishing third with 41 points, bolstered by four championship performances. Matthew Guerin got things going taking the mile in a sprint finish over Plymouth South’s Anthony Lyons, 4:30.86 to 40:30.87. Maurice King Jr won the 1000m in 2:31.78 and announced himself as a contender for next week’s Meet of Champions. Both athletes ran on their 1st place 4x800m. Kaleb Lopez earned another 10 points, taking the high jump in 6-2. Greater Lowell Tech also finished 8th in the 4x400m.
Mitchell Callender of Oliver Ames continued his phenomenal season with another 60 foot performance in the shot put. Callender took first overall in 60-4.5. He holds the #1 throw in the state this season with his PR of 62-7.25.
Girls
It was a back and forth battle between Milton and Melrose for the Division 3 Title. Both teams relied on individual champs as well as depth as they stacked points throughout the day. In the 1000m, both teams walked away with a combined 23 points.
Milton’s Grace Danileson took the title in 3:02.54 and teammate Felicity Goode finished eighth to score 11 points total for Milton. Melrose would score 13 points, as Ella Yorkey finished runner up and Nora McCormack took fifth. This was how the meet went, both teams trading blow after blow.
Milton won the 4x200m. Melrose finished sixth.
Melrose won the 4x800m. Milton finished fourth.
It was the High Jump and 55m Hurdles that proved to be the deciding factor for Milton. Annaliese Aguilar won the hurdles and teammate Ella Turner finished eighth, securing 11 points for Milton. Melrose once again struck a blow here, with Amelia Kelley securing two points as well by finishing seventh. Both Milton hurdlers would return in the High Jump, this time with Ella Turner earning a dominant win by jumping 5-4. Aguilar would tie for fifth with a jump of 5-0, to earn 13.5 points total. Milton would finish the day with 54.50 points to Melrose’s 50. Also scoring for Milton was Danaya Sweeney, 6th in the 300m, and 8th in the Long Jump.
Scoring crucial points for Melrose were Shot Put Champion Emiline Boyer and distance runner Reiley Powell. Boyer has consistently been one of the state’s best and proved so on Thursday, with a dominant win. She cracked 40 feet for the first time this season, throwing 40-0.75, showing she is peaking at the perfect time. Powell finished third in the Two Mile, along with Naomi Breay in sixth, and finished eighth in the mile. An impressive double considering the Mile is first.
The performance of the day had to belong to Tantasqua Regional’s Keoni Savoie. As the #1 seed in both the 55m and 300m, Savoie did not disappoint, earning wins in both. She blazed to PRS in both, and her 55m time of 7.04 shows she’s ready to contend for a title next week at the Meet of Champions.
