“I definitely have stuff left. I definitely had stuff to give.”
With the outdoor season reaching its most important stretch- this weekend’s divisional state championships, next Saturday’s Meet of Champions, and potentially more beyond that – Michael Mohoric feels he still has plenty left in the tank.
Hard to believe? Maybe. But coming from the Newburyport senior, it rings true.
The latest evidence came Thursday night at Bridgewater State University where the MIT signee delivered another standout performance to capture the 800-meter run at the Division 4 Championships. In a race he dictated the pace from the start, Mohoric powered his way to a nearly three-second best of 1:51.99. Amherst-Pelham’s Nicolas Lisle finished at 1:53.75.
“He’s a really strong runner,” he said. “I always see him at these meets. He always gives me a really great challenge. I was really grateful that he was able to push me.”
Mohoric’s performance continues a strings of huge PRs over the last few weeks that’s included a 9:01.75 two mile at the Cape Ann League Championships on May 23 and a victory in the mile at the BSR Elite Meet where he dropped 10 seconds of his previous best with a 4:05.88 win, a time that currently ranks No. 15 in the country.
Duxbury’s Ian McNeil joined nine other runners that have broken 22 seconds in the 200m McNeil blazed to a triumphant 21.98 to edge runner-up Gustavo Varela of Greater Lawrence Tech by 0.40 seconds.
Holliston freshman Lucy Downin captured the girls’ 800m with a near best of 2:14.60. Downin ran her final 400m in 1:05.61 to break from eventual runner-up Sophia Warnetski, who was timed in 2:15.83 for the silver medal.
In the girls’ 200m, Fitchburg sophomore Jayzelle Florival beat a strong field with a time of 25.26. Foxborough’s Lauren Bober was second at 25.30. The race featured six that went under 26 seconds.
The boys’ two mile appeared destined to be a runaway victory for defending champion Silas Gartner. The Falmouth senior surged to the front from the gun and built a sizable five-second lead over the chase pack, passing through the mile in 4:35.
But with approximately 700 meters remaining, the race took an unexpected turn when Gartner abruptly drifted into the infield, leaving Pembroke’s Nathan Palmieri and Holliston’s Max Harrington to battle for the title.
The duo exchanged the lead multiple times over the final lap before Palmieri found another gear coming off the final turn, pulling away with a strong finishing sprint. The Titan junior crossed the line in 9:26.27, while Harrington followed in 9:30.13.
“I was so surprised,” Palmieri said. “I saw [Gartner] about 50 or 75 meters ahead, and then all of a sudden, with about two or three laps left, he was nowhere to be seen. I had no clue what happened. Then my coach was out there telling me, ‘You’re racing for the win.’ That completely changed my mindset. From that point on, I just focused on going as fast as I possibly could.”
After finishing second in their respective races at last year’s Division 4 meet, Wayland’s Sazie Wrentmore and Newburyport’s Kyle Lisauskas won the girls’ and boys’ 400m hurdles. Wrentmore was nearly two second as ahead of her closest rival with a time of 1:04.39. Westfield’s Nessa Gibson (second, 1:06.30) and Duxbury’s Madeline Mackinnon (third, 1:06.31) took the next two spots. Lusaukas broke the tape in 55.80. Finishing right behind him were Glocester’s Seamus Wade Lineham (second, 56.33) and Colin Hart (third, 56.42).
Other winners included Tri County’s Alex Larson in the boys’ discus (141-10), Holliston’s Reis Pirelli in the girls’ discus (116-9), Marblehead’s Marietta O’Connell in the boys’ two mile (11:10.3), Wakefield’s JaMauri Belmer in the boys’ triple jump (45-9.5) and Chelsea’s Thania Simon in the girls’ triple jump (36-11.75), Wayland’s Ryan McCormack in the boys’ pentathlon (3,335 points) and Archbishop William’s Allison Flynn in the girls’ pentathlon (2,802 points), and Dracut’s Serenity Fryns in the girls’ pole vault (9-7).
Heading into the final day of competition, Newburyport holds a 31-24 lead over Wakefield. Burlington and Pembroke are tied at third with 23 points.
Below are highlights from the other five divisional championships contested Thursday and Friday. The statewide championship weekend will wrap up Sunday after inclement weather forced the postponement of the Division 3 and Division 4 meets, which had originally been scheduled for Saturday. Division 6 was the only meet on Saturday. Congratulations to Abington and Ayer Shirley, the respective boys’ and girls’ team champions in that meet.
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DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Just a day after losing the state lead in the 800m, Brookline’s Harry Flint reclaimed the top spot with a PR and winning time of 1:51.59. Flint had plenty of competition pushing him to the finish, as Xaverian Brothers’ Jack Weintraub placed second in 1:53.50. The race was loaded with depth, with the top six finishers all breaking 1:56.
In the girls’ 800m, Lexington freshman Amelia Whorton broke the 2:10 barrier for the second time, clocking a PR of 2:09.29. The performance moves Whorton to No. 6 nationally among ninth-graders. Needham’s Madison Roach earned runner-up honors in 2:11.35.
The girls’ two mile produced the No. 2 and No. 3 performances in the state this season as Needham’s Greta Hammer defended her crown by holding off Cambridge Rindge & Latin’s Sophia Juanes Seto by mere strides. Hammer crossed in 10:25.06, while Juanes Seto was timed in 10:25.22, a personal best by 14 seconds.
Boston College High’s Greg McGrath cruised to the boys’ two-mile title with an outdoor best and the state’s No. 2 time of 9:06.62. Newton North’s Ryan Costello was second in 9:12.34.
Fast times highlighted the 200m dashes. In the girls’ race, Lexington’s Ava Lombardo edged Wachusett freshman Terry Kwarteng, 24.73 to 24.80. Both athletes dipped under 25 seconds for the first time in their careers. Lombardo moved to No. 3 in the state rankings, while Kwarteng now sits No. 5.
In the boys’ 200m, Xaverian Brothers’ Alex Todorov held off Lexington’s Bennett Siino with a blazing 21.50. Siino followed closely in 21.78.
Attleboro’s Noah Williams and Acton-Boxborough’s Alex Abakah both made significant jumps in the state rankings with a classic showdown in the boys’ discus. Williams moved into a tie for No. 2 in the Bay State with a winning throw of 173-11. Abakah was second at 170-11, an effort that exceeded his previous best by 12 feet and vaulted him from No. 15 to No. 4 in the state rankings.
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DIVISION 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS
To no one’s surprise, Westford Academy’s Abby Hennessy ran away from the field in the two mile. Once again, Hennessy did it in record fashion, cruising to the No. 2 time in the country with an all-time best of 9:50.72. The Washington commit’s previous best was 9:52.55 from her runner-up finish at the New Balance Nationals this past March. Concord Carlisle’s Maria Chopas finished second with a state No. 4 of 10:29.25.
Top-ranked Amar Skeete of Catholic Memorial came just an inch from his second straight 50-footer in the triple jump. Skeete won the title by more than five feet with a leap of 49-11. His best this season is 50-4 from his victory at the MSTCA Coaches Shore Invitational.
Lincoln Sudbury’s Nicolas Begic raced to his second sub-22 of the season in the boys’ 200m dash with a triumphant 21.98, just 0.02 seconds shy of his season best of 21.96 from his victory at the Dual County Conference Championships.
Malden freshman Khadijah Diagne won the girls title with a quick 24.59. It was her fourth time under 25 seconds. Her PR is 24.53 from the Puma East Coast International Showcase on May 2.
Billerica’s Evelyn Wesling captured the 800m with a near best of 2:12.53. She currently ranks No. 3 in the state with a PR of 2:12.50 from her win at the MVC League Championships. Winchester’s Julia Ramsey was second at 2:14.23.
Not much separated the top finishers in the boys’ 800m where Plymouth North’s Dylan Monteiro edged North Andover’s Aiden Siwicki by 0.08 seconds with a time of 1:54.75. Finishing third was Concord-Carlisle’s Toby Martel at 1:55.21.
The boys’ 400m hurdles also proved to be a close affair with North Andover’s Aidan McGarry taking the title over Woburn’s Dawit Kulubya. Both hurdlers dipped under 56 seconds with McGarry taking the title in 55.43 to Kulubya’s 55.57 effort.
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DIVISION 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sharon’s Nina Kyei-Aboagye and Reading’s Ryan Pulpi both had statement races in the 200m leading up to next weekend’s Meet of Champions. The talented sprinters improved their state-leaders for the half-lapper. Kyei-Aboagye broke 24 seconds for the first time this season with a season best of 23.97. Pulpi continued his stellar season with a state-leading 21.11.
Just 0.25 seconds was the difference from the top three finishers in the boys’ 800m won by Milton’s Robert Beato in 1:56.56. Masconomet teammates Timothy Lull (second, 1:56.81) and Alexander Hamlin (third, 1:56.87) took the next two spots.
In the girls’ 800m, Canton’s Lauren Raffetto was a convincing victor, taking the crown by five seconds with a time of 2:13.69.
Chloe Dubuisson of Canton captured the 400m hurdles in a close race with Plymouth South’s Alex Lasnicki. Dubuisson was timed in a winning 1:03.90 to Lasnicki’s 1:04.11 effort. The Canton senior’s current best is 1:02.41, which ranks her No. 5 in the state.
Milton’s Jonah Stephens Roye took the boys’ race in a personal best and state No. 3 of 54.36. Shane O’Connor of Longmeadow was second at 55.87.
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DIVISION 5 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Weston’s Solana Varela proved that a sub-minute performance could be in the cards at next weekend’s Meet of Champions with an eye-popping performance in the 400m hurdles. The Wildcats senior blazed to a PR of 1:00.22, the fourth best clocking all-time in Massachusetts. In all five meets that she has competed in this spring, Varela has broken 1:02. Her previous best in this event is 1:00.84 from last year’s New Balance Nationals.
Emily Flagg of Whitinsville Christian raced to her career best to take the two mile. Much like most of her races, Flagg ran most of this one solo, crossing the line in 10:30.98.
Cathedral’s Ta’ Quaire Bell won a tight race in the boys’ 200m. Bell blazed to a season best of 22.16, just 0.04 seconds ahead of Quabbin’s Owura Ankoma-Mensah. Taconic’s Romeo Yankey was third at 22.55.
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DIVISION 6 CHAMPIONSHIPS
Abington and Ayer Shirley relied on strong depth and top performance from a few of their athletes to earn their respective team banners.
Highlighted by multiple victories from Aidan and Nathan Calcano Da Silva, Abington defeated Clinton, 76-52, in its meet. The Green Wave scored in nine of the 19 events.
Nathan and Aiden went 1-2 in the 400m dash with times of 48.54 and 49.20. Aiden also swept the hurdle events, clocking 14.74 in the 110m HH and 53.79 in the 400m IH. Nathan also lent his footspeed on the Green Waves’ first-place 4x400m squad that was timed in 3:28.21.
Clinton’s Sean Blaze was a triple winner with victories in the 100m (10.80), 200m (21.89) and the long jump (23-0.50).
Nikolos Askjaer earned two gold medals with wins in the shot (61-1.75) and the discus (182-4).
In the triple jump, Monument’s Siddy Culbert leaped 47-10.5 to come out on top. Culbert currently ranks No. 2 in the state at 48-8.
On the girls’ side, Ayer Shirley’s Roxane McKenzie and Lorelai Levy led the way, each coming home with a pair of victories. McKenzie was the fastest of the day, sweeping the 100m (12.41) and the 200m (25.80). She also ran a leg on the winning 4x100m squad (49.94). Levy was the best in the hurdles, taking the 100m HH in 15.20 and the 400m IH at 1:04.86.
In all, Ayer Shirley scored in eight events.
Parker Charter’s Kinsley Kline improved her state-leader in the pole vault with a PR of 12-feet even.
A mere 0.43 seconds was the difference between the top three in the 400m dash. The race was won by Monomoy Regional’s Lucy Cortese in 59.55. Advanced Math and Science’s Elizabeth Zickus was second (59.79) and Sutton’s Vivien Bregman was third (59.98).
One Response
Per his Instagram, Mohoric is going to MIT, not UMass Lowell