In the first meet of this year’s indoor track season the Rebels found themselves in competition with Dedham, on December 13 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Just as the past would dictate, the meet was a clear, decisive victory for Walpole. The final score was an astounding 81-14.
From the start of the competition, it was clear that the meet would be a certain victory for Walpole. In the first three completed events—the 1 mile, the 600 meters, and the 100o meters—Walpole swept each. The winning mile time, 5 minutes flat, was run by senior captain Sean Herlihy. As for the 600 meters, it was junior Anthony DiVirgilio with a time of 1 minute and 36 seconds. Sophomore Brendan Wohler’s first place clinching time for the 1000 meters was 2 minutes, 57 seconds. Although they are good places, the times run were not up to par. The reason Walpole beat Dedham in these races is that the opponent’s team significantly lacks in endurance running skill. If success for the Rebels is to continue, then these times need to improve drastically.
By the time the jumping and throwing events ended, Dedham scored most of their total points. In shot putting, Walpole severely lacks here, for the only athlete on our team to crack the top 40 throwers in the Bay State League was junior Robbie Lederman with 33 feet, 4 inches, which was just 3.25 inches shy of beating junior Thomas Downing of Dedham. In the jumps, senior captain Conor McCarthy led the way by winning both the high and long jumps. Freshman Ian Fair came in third place for the high jump; senior Jungwoo Yoon, the long jump.
The 4-by-400 meter relay team also needs to see improvement. The only teams who crossed the finish line after Walpole were Milton and Dedham, and not by much. During practices, a multitude of both sprinters and distance runners have proven to be able to break a minute in a 400 meter race, but with a time of 3:59.92, this does not seem clear.
Score wise, Walpole preformed close to the best they could possibly do, but in terms of times and overall places, nearly everyone across the board has to step up. It is also necessary for high point-scoring seniors PJ Hayes and Kemble Lindh to come off their injuries, return to the track, and bring the heat so they will aid the Rebels in victory.
