The Girls Spring Track team is starting off on the right foot with successful victories against Brookline and Norwood so far in the season. Also, Thursday, March 28 Walpole defeated Brookline in their first meet with a final score of 101 to 35. In their recent dual meet against Norwood on Tuesday, April 4, the Rebels had a triumphant win of 95 to 41.The runners managed to set 22 personal records during the meet—beating the old record of 21 personal records in indoor—and 11 teammates qualified for states between both meets.
In the Norwood meet, junior Erin McCarthy, a usual top-ranked 200 runner, was placed in the 400 instead. She performed beyond expectation by taking first with a time of 62.4 seconds and qualifying for States. Another athlete who exceeded expectations was senior Amanda Carney – she was the second highest scorer for the team so far by scoring 22.25 points in the first two meets. She qualified for states in both Triple Jumps with 33’8″ against Brookline and a Long Jump with 15’9″ against Norwood. Sophomore Maddy Shea was the team’s top scorer – she scored 34 points overall. In addition to the points, she has also qualified for States in 5 events: High Jump (4’10”), Long Jump (16’1″), 100m (13.0), 200m (27.4), and 400m (63.2).
Walpole not only succeeded in races but throwing events as well. Against Norwood, junior Steph DeSantis and senior Kristan Papirio snagged first and second with DeSantis stepping up to throw a new personal record of 93’7’’, qualifying for states. During the Brookline meet, Papirio stepped up to take first and qualify with a throw of 102’7”. In Discus sophmore Michelle Monahan throw a 80’3” to place first along with junior Lizzy Almeda taking the much needed third place with 71’9. Almeda also took second in Shotput with a new personal record of 25’3”.
Walpole dominated in distance events —Norwood’s weaker area— by scoring 24 of 27 possible points. In the 2-mile, Walpole runners senior Liz Jelloe, freshman Kristen Coyne and junior Joanna Garry swept first, second and third with a total of 9 points. In one of the most exciting races of the meet, Walpole once again swept out the competition in the mile. Freshman Gina Conti got a time of new personal record of 5:37 (placing first) with senior Courtney Shea close behind with a time of 5:39. Great performances of seniors Brigette Lawton and Lane Kelleher scored Walpole 6 points the 800m with first and third.
Other teammates who qualified for states over the last two meets were sophomore Nicole Browne in Triple Jump with a distance of 33’ and a 100m H 16.7 seconds. Four of the teams top runners —- senior Captains Jackie Clinton and Caroline Malone, as well as Carney and Browne —- ran 53.8 seconds in the 4×100 which meant that they reached the qualifying standards during the first meet.
Despite the gloomy weather, the Girls Spring Track team prevailed with wins against Norwood and Brookline. The team has proven to be tough competition early in the season and eagerly looks forward to the rest of it.
