Jenks sets meet record
Griffin wins boys’ crown
It’s not often that Newton South’s Lucy Jenks gets the green light to run for a fast time. Instead, the Lions’ starlet concentrates on first place and not so much what the clock says. Not until the big meets.
Jenks was good to go at the Reggie Lewis Center Saturday and she took full advantage in the All-State championships. Jenks was out quick at the gun in the mile and sailed through 800 meters in 2:22.5 and threequarters in 3:36, well ahead of the talented pack on the Reggie Lewis Center track. Jenks never faltered as she sprinted across the finish line in a blazing 4 minutes, 48.22 seconds to defend her title with a new meet record. Jenks’ time was under the 4:49.14 mark set by Peabody great Catarina Rocha in 2013.
Jenks was looking forward to unloading after running a controlled race last week to defend her Div. 1 title. “Usually my plan isn’t to go out and break records, but me and (Newton South coach) Steve (McChesney) talked about going for it today,” Jenks said. “It feels awesome. I felt tired the last few laps. It’s something I’ve had to get used to. Steve has pushed me to set PRs on my own. I’ve had to get comfortable with that.”
The mile had a cross country theme to it as both Jenks and boys’ winner Mike Griffin of King Philip were Div. 1 All-State crosscountry champions in the fall. Griffin, who has been nearly unbeatable all season, wasn’t waiting for anyone to set the pace in his race. He tore through the 400 in 61.5 and 800 in 2:06.5. Franklin’s Tyler Brogan briefly challenged with just over 400 left, but it was short-lived as Griffin kicked hard and crossed the finish line in 4:13.55 to easily defend his title. Brogan still finished a strong second with a 4:17.76.
Griffin was pleased with his new indoor PR and would like to run under 4:10 at nationals. “I had a plan to take it out in 61 and it was just the way I wanted to do it,” Griffin said. “I couldn’t risk losing it the last 400. Being able to do it (win) twice is just awesome.”
Lowell’s Richmond Kwaateng turned away a loaded 55 field for a quick 6.37 win and his first AllState title. “My start was one of my best all season, but I knew I had to push right through,” said Kwaateng, who will attend the University of Connecticut. “I expected it to be tight.”
Kwaateng’s wins paced the Lowell boys to the team title with 46.5 points. ConcordCarlisle, led by Emma Kerimo’s and Nora Johnson’s second and third place finish in the mile, respectively, and a third place in the 4×200, captured the team title with 22 points.
Kwaateng went on to dominate the competition in the long jump pit as he collected his second AllState title with a 22-11 ¾ effort.
There was no meet record for the all-time New England best in the 600, but Tewksbury’s Makayla Paige looked smooth and in control as she easily captured her third consecutive AllState title in 1:30.61. “It was a tough race and there were some really good runners,” said Paige. “I wanted to take it out hard and not have someone sneak up on me.”
Billerica’s Nicole Anderson and Emma Sullivan, of Shepherd Hill, hooked up again in the 1,000, but unlike last week’s Div. 1 race where they were separated by just half a second at the finish, Anderson pulled away over the final 200 to win comfortably in 2:53.37. Sullivan was again a strong second in 2:54.55. Sonja Nagle, of Brookline, ran 2:55.71 to finish a solid third.
Anderson was mentally engaged on the starting line and expected to run well. “They wanted this just as much as I did,” Anderson said of the competition. “I’ve been doing the work and extra things. It wasn’t an accident that I was there. I was really trying to come in with a competitive mindset. I wasn’t going to hesitate to lead if I had to. She (Sullivan) got right up on me with 150 to go and I was like ‘oh no.'”
North Reading’s William Lord posted a mild upset in the 55 hurdles when he defeated Stoughton’s David Peters on the infield. Lord edged out Peters, 7.38 to 7.43 with the fastest time this winter. “I felt amazing,” he said. “My start and form felt really good. I knew I could take it today. I had the mindset coming in I wanted to be in the top three.”
Austin Prep’s Lauren Sablone overcame a bad start in her preliminary heat and come back to capture the 55 in 7.32. “The start in the preliminaries weren’t good, but I felt good in the final,” said Sablone. “I made sure I didn’t pop up on my start. I felt good. I knew it was going to be a tight race. I came in thinking I could win, but I wasn’t expecting it.”
Concord-Carlisle’s Will Chaffin broke from the pack early in the 2 mile and sprinted home for a quick 9:15.44 win. Sean Kay, of Arlington Catholic, shook himself loose of the pack and closed hard for second in 9:22.84. Weston’s Carmel Fitzgibbon also ran a solo race as she easily captured the girls’ race in 10:40.82. Emily Boutin, of Pope Francis, was a distant second in 10:53.24.
Shane Grant, of Walpole, captured the 1,000 in 2:30.05. Falmouth’s Abigail Chorches captured the shot put by nearly three feet with her 40-2-1/2 toss. Beverly’s India Ingemi led four girls under 40 seconds in the 300 with her winning time of 39.44. Stephen Harris,
of Billerica, ran away with the 300 in 34.27. Medfield’s John McNeil gave the crowd a thrill with his sterling high jump leap of 6-9 for the win.