11/21/98 at Gardner Municipal Golf Course, Gardner MA - 2.9 miles - windy,
overcast, 40s
Massachusetts State Meet Finals
by Steve Vaitones [usatfne@ix.netcom.com]
Four exciting races, each with differing methods of deciding individual
wins (which included a pair of course records) and with tight team battles
were the order of the day for the Massachusetts harrier season finale.
The Gardner Golf Course, is a constantly undulating circuit of out-loop-back
run primarily on fairways with bits of cart path and dirt road. Hills range
from the slightly downhill opening 500 meters (and ultimate finish up the
same slope) to short steady hills to a punishingly steep downhill after
mile 2, giving the course a high Hoffman difficulty factor.
In order of running:
Girls
Both girls races spread out fairly quickly in the first kilometer. In Division
I, Newton South's Emily Johnson had what looked like a comfortable
lead with only 200 to go, but Westford's Jessica Parrot made up considerable
ground and passed the rival freshman to take individual honors. Newton
South had the lowest score of the day in last weeks' qualifying races, but
western team Amherst packed their 5 into the top 26 to offset South's 2-4
spots and garnered a 3 point victory 73-76.
There was no coming from behind in Divison I where Marblehead junior Shalene
Flanagan took it out early on and looked effortless in her 40 second win.
The 16:02 time is reportedly only bettered by the course standard of 15:50
set by Lynn Jennings in 1977. A distant but distinct runner-up was Sheela
Agrawal of Case, a sub 11:00 2 miler last indoor season who sat out the
spring season with injuries. Twins Kate (3) and Laura (6) O'Neill led Milton
to their first championship by a single point over Mohawk Valley, 92-93.
Boys
There was no lead pack through the opening kilo in Division I, just one big
pack. At the same point on the return, there were still five with even money
on each one. Tim Curran of St.John's led the hopefuls into the homestretch,
but 300 meters from home, he was caught by New England mile champ Tristan
Colangelo and then by Ben Wesenyeleh. Both looked strong, but Colangelo kept
a stridelength ahead through the tape, winning by a tick 14:17-14:18.
Gloucester had won an unprecedented four straight state titles, graduated
4 seniors from the 1997 team, and appeared vulnerable. But opponents may have
lost their only chance to unseat the Fishermen for a few more years, as a
team of underclassmen ran to an unprecedented fifth straight championship.
(Note: Falmouth girls netted 5 straight in the early days of HS girls
xc, 1971-75). St.John's of Shrewsbury was silver medal team; the 68-81
margin was the largest victory margin of the day.
Colangelo's time broke the 21 year old 14:20 mark (by Jeff Cullinane,
Billerica) as did Wessenyeleh's. But the winner had far less time to savor
the performance than his predecessor in the record book, as the "feature"
presentation took the line.
Div.II defending champ Franklin Sanchez and Scholastic Indoor double winner
Andy Powell had not met during the season, and spectators eagerly awaited
the final race. Given the players, the pace was not overly fast.
"We heard people yelling that we were going to slow" noted Sanchez, "but
the
important thing today was the competition." They began to break things open
on the big downhill near mile 2. Rebounding up the next hill, the two were
in full stride from there to the finish; shoulder to shoulder, a step ahead,
a stride back. In view of the tape, the Stanford-bound Powell had a step on
his rival (who has made no college decision yet) and was able to hold onto
that as he hit the line at an even 14:00, one second ahead of Sanchez.
The winner came home with double gold, as his Oliver Ames squad took top
honors 49-56 over Mohawk Trail, who matched their girls' team placing.
The rivals and friends were gracious in several post race interviews.
"When I was ahead, I'd wait for him to make a move, and when he was in the
lead, he was waiting for me to make a move. It was fun, it was tough".
"I was not confident of winning until the final 10 meters," said Powell.
"We couldn't get into a good rhythm for really fast running; our speed
fluctuated because of the continual hills. I knew where I wanted to begin
my kick at the end, but had to improvise because Franklin was right there."
Both implied that the somewhat tactical race leaves them something in the
tank for next weekend's Footlocker East Race. "We'll be running on the same
team next week, for the state," stated Sanchez. When asked what they thought
about their chances against New England champ Louie Luchini of Maine, they
replied in unison, "We're ready for him!". So are cross country fans.
RESULTS
(Classes if known)
Girls Div I
1.Jessica Parrot* Westford 16:55
2.Emily Johnson*** Newton S, 16:56
3.Kage Polizzotto, Nashoba, 17:09
4.Julie Farago, Newton S, 17:20
5.Katie Taormina*, Gloucester, 17:26
6.Margot Thistle, Wakefield, 17:33
7.Michelle Palmer, Plymouth S, 17:42
8.Ellen Beth, Wachusett, 17:47
9.Allison Johnson, Taconic, 17:49
10.Caroline Banks, Wachusett, 17:49
TEAMS: 1.Amherst 73; 2.Newton South 76; 3.Wachusett Reg 126; 4.Westford 135
5.Newton North 177; 6.Dennis-Yarmouth 228.
Girls Div II
1.Shalene Flanagan, Marblehead, 16:02;
2.Sheela Agrawal, Case, 16:42
3.Kate O'Neill, Milton, 16:50
4.Julie Spolidoro, Duxbury, 16:58
5.Jenn Campbell, Holyoke Catholic, 17:06
6.Laura O'Neill, Milton, 17:19
7.Molly Landreth**, Newburyport, 17:21
8.Marian Bihrle*, Belmont, 17:27
9.Erin O'Brien, Oliver Ames, 17:30
10.Sarah MacKay, Whitinsville Christian, 17:41
TEAMS: 1.Milton, 92; 2.Mohawk Trail 93; 3.Newburyport 124; 4.Holliston 143;
5.Oliver Ames 152; 6.St.Peter-Marian 162.
Boys Div I
1.Tristan Colangelo*, Gloucester, 14:17 CR
2.Ben Wessenyeleh, O'Bryant/Boston, 14:18 (also betters old CR
3.Tim Curran, St.Johns/Shrewsbury, 14:20
4.Tyler Bloom, Westford, 14:24
5.Shawn Wallace, Wakefield, 14:28
6.Josh Palazola**, Gloucester, 14:29
7.Said Ahmed**, Boston English, 14:29
8.Tom McArdle, Brookline, 14:30
9.David Raymond, Wachusett, 14:32
10.Patrick Boehm, Wachusett, 14:34
TEAMS: 1.Gloucester 68; 2.St.John's/Shrewsbury 81; 3.Westford 111;
4.Cambridge Rindge & Latin, 165; 5.Wachusett Reg. 171; 6.Taconic 193.
Boys Div II
1.Andy Powell, Oliver Ames, 14:00
2.Franklin Sanchez, Lynn Tech, 14:01
3.Jeff Atkinson*, Norwell, 14:39
4.Neal Graves, Mohawk Trail, 14:44
5.Chris Johnson, Oliver Ames, 14:46
6.Geoff Cronan, Millbury, 14:48
7.Mark Miller, Mohawk, 14:55
8.Jim Kastrenos, Foxboro, 14:57
9.Matt McDonald, Blackstone-Millville, 14:58
10.Aaron Afarian, King Philip, 15:06
TEAMS: 1.Oliver Ames 49; 2.Mohawk Trail 56; 3.King Philip 94;
4.Saugus 170; 5.Stoneham, 201; 6.Mt.Greylock, 212
