Newton North boys rule
Andover girls finally top NN
SUDBURY — Jim Blackburn has won countless meets during his 57 years of coaching, but to the Newton North boys track mentor, the most satisfying victory is the latest one.
Blackburn was satisfied yesterday when the Tigers captured the 4x400 (3:28.70) and distance medley (10:37.11) races on the way to defending their team title at the Division 1 Coaches Relays by posting 66 points in chilly conditions at Lincoln-Sudbury.
“We knew we’d have to do it with the running events,” Blackburn said. “This meet is more a measure of the team’s depth. It probably means we’ll do all right in the state meet.
“In 57 years I’m getting the same thing out of it. I’m still looking for that lift you get from winning. I still get it, obviously, or I wouldn’t stay. I’ll keep going. It’s going to take some embalming fluid to get me out.”
Newton North always has a plethora of elite individuals, and that’s the case once again this spring. Two-mile ace Andrew Mah dropped down to the mile and clocked a 4:24 to anchor the distance medley squad, while indoor 600-meter state champion Theo Burba pulled away from the pack around the final turn and lengthened his lead on the final straight of the 4x400 for a sizzling 50.8 leg. Jordan Greene matched Burba’s time in the 4x400 and anchored the 4x200 relay with a 21.7.
Second-place BC High chalked up wins in the long jump (59 feet, 2 inches), shot put (1433) and discus (387-6) to finish with 55 points.
Peter Comeau’s Andover girls squad finally got back into the winner’s circle after finishing second to Newton North the last five years. The Golden Warriors won both the 4x200 (1:46.75) and 4x400 (4:03.97) to finish with 60 points, just ahead of North’s 57.
Julianna Kennedy, Hannah Lansberry, Delia Barbanti and Emma Joel led the 4x400 squad, while Lansberry and Barbanti teamed up with Ally Bennett and Audrey Adam to take the 4x200. Bennett also had a huge day in the javelin, as she topped her previous best throw with a heave of 109-0 to pace a secondplace finish that clinched the team title.
Comeau called the win “a monkey off our back” after so many tight finishes against Joe Tranchita’s Newton North club.
“We were very fortunate to win the divisional meet the last two years in a row,” Comeau said. “We took two buses today and it took two buses to score. And beating Newton North is just an honor. They’re an amazing team. We like to think we’re right with them and to get them after five years is nice.”
Newton South dominated the distance events on the track, as Steve McChesney’s young Lions won the 4 x 1,600 meters (21:57.80), distance medley (12:46.26) and sprint medley (4:11.49).