THE 4×200 RELAY team took 1st at the CAL Open, breaking a 20-year old school record and running the fastest time in the state in 1:45.91. Pictured in the front row from left to right is Kayla Budny and Ava McIntyre. In the back from left is Georgia Robarts and Giuliana Ligor. (NRHS Track Photo)
BOSTON — On Feb. 7, the NRHS girls’ track and field team were named both Cape Ann League Open Champions and CAL Kinney Division Champions. The CAL Championship, which was held at the Track at New Balance proved to be both an exciting and suspenseful meet for the Hornets, who were able to wrap up the CAL season with a 1 point victory over second place Pentucket 105-104. Despite this close score the girls did not disappoint, placing within the top 3 in 7 events.
Rounding out the other team scores were Newburyport (89), Triton (39), Ipswich (35), Essex Tech (10), Amesbury (10), Hamilton-Wenham (6), Manchester Essex (3), Lynnfield (2).
In the preliminary round of the 55 meter dash, Kayla Budny got fourth with a time of 7.71 seconds, allowing her to qualify for the finals of this event. In the finals, she placed fourth, getting a time of 7.67 and scoring North Reading four points. Georgia Robarts also qualified during the preliminary race, with her time of 7.78 seconds. In the finals, she got fifth, scoring two more points for North Reading with her time of 7.76 seconds. Though they did not qualify for the finals, Marisa Montana (7.97), Julia DeAngelis (8.06) and Madelyn Arian Aitchison (8.15) all ran impressive races as well.
In the 300 meter dash, Tiara Lamont (45.12), Marisa Montana (45.54) and Madelyn Arian Aitchison (46.46) all had spectacular performances as well.
North Reading got first place in the 600, with Giuliana Ligor going 1:40.02, scoring 10 points for her team. Alexandra Sfikas (1:58.24), Bella Fischer (2:01.86), and Despina Sfikas (2:03.84) all ran extremely well in this event also.
In the preliminary round of the 55 meter hurdles, Madison Vant (9.34) and Hayden MacLellan (9.58) qualified for the finals. Katie Zimmerman (10.09), Ellie Heintz (10.29) and Giuliana Auciello (10.48) did not qualify but still ran terrific races. In the 55 meter hurdles finals, Madison Vant got second with her time of 9.06 seconds, gaining eight points for North Reading. Hayden MacLellan got fourth place and scored four points with her time of 9.22 seconds.
In the distance events, North Reading got first, third, and sixth in the One Mile and fourth place in the Two Mile.
In the 1000 Meter, Quinlan Kelly got an outstanding time of 3:32.96.
In the One mile, Annalise Butler got second place with her time of 5:26.85, scoring eight points. Callie MacLellan got third place in this event with her time of 5:51.38, scoring six points. Ava Collins ran a 6:00.71 mile, scoring one point.
Annalise Butler also scored points for her team by getting fourth in the Two Mile with her time of 12:22.61.
In the Shot Put Madison Vant threw 33’ 4”, placing her in 1st and winning 10 points for her team. Vant was named Athlete of the Meet and also competed in the Long Jump and 55m hurdles.
Abigail Lilley went 29’ 7”, coming in 4th place. Sabrina Mini also placed within the top 10, coming in 7th with a toss of 28’ 0 ¼”.
In the High Jump, Giuliana Ligor, who was named the Cape Ann League Athlete of the Year, came in 4th place with a jump of 5’ 0”. Abigail Lilley placed 5th, jumping 4’ 10”. Callie MacLellan (4’ 8”), Tiara Lamont (4’ 8”), and Giuliana Auciello (4’ 6”) all had strong performances in the High Jump.
In the Long Jump, North Reading took both 1st and 3rd place. Captain Ava McIntyre jumped an impressive 17’ 5 ¾”, landing her in 1st. Madison Vant was not far behind, coming in 3rd with a leap of 17’ 4”. Georgia Robarts (16’ 4 ½”) and Captain Kayla Budny (15’ 9 ½”) came in 5th and 7th. Katie Zimmerman (15’ 1 ¼”) also gave a solid performance.
Leading into the final three events (the relays) the Hornets were down five points 85-90. The 4 x 200 Meter Relay made up of Georgia Robarts, Ava McIntyre, Kayla Budny, and Giuliana Ligor got first place in this event with their time of 1:45.91, scoring 10 points for North Reading, breaking a 20 year old school record and setting a new league record. Their time is also the fastest run by any team in Massachusetts this year. It was a tremendous race with both the Hornets and the Panthers dipping under the old meet record of 1:47.65 as Pentucket went 1:46.58. The score was now 95-98, Pentucket.
The 4 x 800 Meter Relay made up of Quinlan Kelly, Ava Collins, Callie MacLellan, and Karleigh Budney got third place with their time of 11:11.28, scoring six points to Pentucket’s 4th place four points.
Leading into the final event the Hornets were down 101-102. It would all come down to the 4 x 400 Meter Relay made up of Marisa Montana, Julia DeAngelis, Madelyn Arian Aitchison, and Tiara Lamont which took fourth place and scored four points with their time of 4:22.75, well ahead of Pentucket’s 5th place team that went 4:32.89 in the previous heat. This brought the Hornets to 105 and the Panthers to 104.
At the end of the meet, only a point separated North Reading from Pentucket, the second place team, making this meet incredibly engaging and competitive and pushing these girls to put in their best effort, which they did. North Reading was named Cape Anne League Kinney Division Champions and Giuliana Ligor was named Athlete of the Year while Madison Vant was named Athlete of the Meet. These girls have accomplished a lot this season and hope to carry on their hardworking legacy in the State Championship and for many years to come.