The Walpole Rebels Girls Track Team suffered a disappointing loss at their first meet against a talented Natick team. Last year, Natick beat the Rebels 51-35, and this year the Red and Blue proved once again that they were a deeper team by scoring 9 points more than last year (due to the addition of Long Jump as a scoring event this year), winning with a final score of 60-35.
After the first four distance events, the score was close with only a four point difference between the teams – Natick 20, Walpole 16. Freshman Gina Conti came in first in the mile with a time of 5:57, while sophomore Maddy Shea also finished first in the 600 meter with a time of 1:49.22. Racing against competitors who are at the top of the Bay State League, senior Liz Jelloe placed second in the 1000 (3:24.63), and junior Erin McCarthy finished second in the 300 (46.77)
After the distance races came the 55 meter dash, which was when Natick began to pull away with the victory. Sophomore Maddy Shea placed third (8.01), scoring one point for the team, but Natick took the first and second places in that race. The same situation occured in shot put when Senior My’Lissa Hope (25’7) scored one point, while Natick earned the other two scoring positions and moved ahead. In most of the races, all of the points scored by Walpole were earned back by Natick, who also took scoring positions in those races.
Natick excelled past Walpole with a few top Bay State athletes on their team, but soon Walpole could have some top athletes of their own.
At this first meet, although they did not win, many girls qualified to move onto the State Competition. Among the athletes were senior Liz Jelloe for the 1000 meter, sophomore Maddy Shea for both the 600 meter and High Jump (4′ 10″), sophomore Nicky Browne for the 55 meter hurdles (9.34), and senior Brigette Lawton for the two mile (12:48.21).
As disappointing as it is to lose the first meet, the team was victorious in their own personal records, and many more look to qualify for states throughout the season.
