Two teams broke the century mark. Two championships were decided by four points or less. One program swept both titles. There was even a tie.
There was a little bit of everything at the MSTCA State Relays this past weekend, held over three days -from Friday through Sunday – in unseasonably cold temperatures.
***
Congratulations to all the team champions.
In Division 1, St. John’s Prep and Lexington captured the boys and girls titles, respectively, on Saturday.
St. John’s Prep defeated Lexington, 83–68, with the Eagles scoring in all but two of the 15 events. Leading the way were victories in the 4×100-meter relay (41.80), 4x200m (1:28.34), and shot put relay (142-10).
Lexington, meanwhile, dominated the girls competition, rolling to a 110–67 win over Newton North. The Minutemen won four events – the discus (293-3), triple jump (108-0.75), sprint medley (4:04.87), and 4×1,600m (21:43.18). Their sprint medley relay performance earned a spot at New Balance Nationals and currently ranks No. 12 in the country.
***
North Andover was the other team to surpass the century mark, defeating Chelmsford, 109–61, for the boys’ Division 2 title on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights won five events – the 4×1,600m (18:28.08), 4x100m shuttle hurdles (1:02.57), sprint medley (3:33.15), high jump (17-2.25), and discus (365-2). Their sprint medley time was just 1.15 seconds shy of the New Balance Nationals automatic standard.
On the girls side, Billerica edged Algonquin, 66–65, in a nail-biter that wasn’t decided until the final event.
Billerica sealed the win in the distance medley relay, outscoring Algonquin by seven points with second- and seventh-place finishes (12:45.48, 13:34.81).
The Indians managed just one event victory – the 4×1,600m relay (22:09.44) – but made it count. Billerica went 1-2 in that race, with the ‘B’ squad finishing just 0.11 seconds behind their teammates.
***
Melrose and Walpole pulled out the wins in Division 3.
Melrose slipped by Masconomet, 73.48–62, to capture the girls title. The Red Raiders earned four gold medals, winning the javelin (203-7), shot put (89-8), 4x800m (10:07.49), and 4×1,600m (22:42.10). Melrose also collected 12 points in the distance medley relay by placing second (13:33.69) and fifth (13:53.05) in the race.
On the boys side, Walpole held off Reading Memorial, 83–79.
The Rebels scored at least eight points in seven different events. Walpole picked up victories in the 4x100m shuttle hurdles (1:06.07) and discus (386-11), and added runner-up finishes in the 4x800m (8:28.43), 4x400m (3:32.45), and 4x100m (43.91).
***
In Division 4, Newburyport was an 87–63 winner over Wakefield. Bedford and Tewksbury shared the girls title, each finishing with 62 points.
Newburyport won five of the 15 events. The Clippers finished first in the sprint medley relay (3:35.79), distance medley relay (10:45.25), shuttle hurdle relay (1:03.71), 4×1,600m relay (18:45.71), and high jump relay (18-0).
Tewksbury, meanwhile, racked up its 62 points by scoring in 12 of the 15 events. The Redmen’s lone victory came in the shuttle hurdle relay (1:08.83).
On the girls side, Bedford scored 50 of its points by capturing five events – the long jump (47-3.25), pole vault (19-6), sprint medley relay (4:14.40), 4x100m (49.59), and 4x200m (1:45.54).
***
Division 5 featured a pair of convincing victories. Dover Sherborn rolled past Weston, 86-52, for the boys’ title. The North Reading girls were two points shy of joining the century club with a 98-58 decision over Weston for their plaque.
Dover Sherborn topped the competition in the 4x100m (43.55), 4×1,600m (3:38.99) and the high jump (17-0) relays. The Raiders’ 4x100m moved to No. 4 in the state rankings.
North Reading scored in 13 of the 15 events. The Hornets earned victories in four of the field events, taking the pole vault (23-0). long jump (47-10.25), javelin (267-6) and high jump (14-3.25) relays.
***
Ayer-Shirley got the two-for-one deal in Division 6, sweeping the boys’ and girls’ titles.
The Lady Panthers beat runner-up Ipswich, 80-56, while their counterparts were triumphant over Millbury, 77-63.
The girls took the hardware in the 4x200m (1:50.13) and the triple jump (97-5) and scored in 11 events. The boys earned gold in the discus (407-3), pole vault (30-0)and 4x800m (8:23.92)
