Lexington boys, Andover girls capture crowns
NORTH ANDOVER >> Sometimes it's very interesting how a simple change in regimen can make a world of change for athletes.
When Lexington freshman Amari Mow received a pair of jump spikes earlier this week, he suddenly realized he had a newfound jump in his step. Little did he know back then that he was about to become a local hero.
When the intensity was at its highest, the rising star delivered, winning the long jump to close the meet Saturday, while delivering Lexington the 2023 outdoor boys track and field title in the process.
"It's crazy," said Lexington boys track and field coach James Hall. "Honestly, I thought they had us in the first half. After Thursday, it wasn't looking great. We did what we were expected to do, but (Acton-Boxboro) and Newton North put on a show Thursday. They really went after it, put the pressure on us. We regrouped, came out today stronger."
Entering Mow's final event, Lexington was trailing in the school standings, in third with 82 points as a team behind Acton-Boxboro and St. John's Prep. His distance of 22-08 earned him a first place finish, and catapulted the Minutemen to a championship with a 10-point swing. Lexington also received a big boost in the shot put with Allen Jiang placing first (53-10.50 feet) and Zezo Beshir finishing third (50-02.50)
"It feels good," said Mow. "But again, it's not all on me. Every practice, we just work. Our coaches push me, my teammates push me. Without them, I wouldn't even be here. We did it as a team."
In an ironic twist, the Div. 1 girls track and field title was decided in a similar fashion. Andover placed first in only two events during the meet Saturday, but still managed to win the crown by accumulating a field-high 81.5 points as a group.
For Andover girls track and field coach Peter Comeau, it was the 10th title captured by the program during his tenure, and the first since 2019.
"We have 157 girls on the team," said Comeau. "We just nickel and dimed everybody. A third here, a fourth here, another fourth, a fifth. We only won the high jump and the pole vault. Those were the
only events we won today."
If you were to select an MVP for Andover, you'd have to make the case for Ashley Sheldon. The Union College commit registered 22 team points herself, winning the high jump with a distance of five feet, six inches. She also placed in the 100-meter
hurdles and the triple jump.
"I'm so happy," Sheldon said. "It's the best feeling ever. I'm so proud of everyone. Second (place) would have been fine because everyone tried their best, but first really put everything over the top."
Malden standout Johnny
Emmanuel made headlines among individual competitors by blazing to a winning time of 46.99 seconds in the boys' 400-meter run. The finish shattered a meet record, and was the second-fastest time recorded in state history for the event itself. After getting stuck in the pack
to start, the senior found a second gear, and turned on the jets.
"I didn't know (about the record)," Emmanuel said. "I knew I got out, because I passed basically everybody. I made up for the stagger on the curve. I just was hoping I didn't die towards the end."