4-0 Melrose poised to clinch Freedom League
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High girls’ indoor track team has inched ever closer to repeating their Middlesex Freedom title with back-to-back league wins over Stoneham last week and a talented Wilmington team on Tuesday at the Boston University Track and Tennis Center.
Melrose (4-0) entered their meet against a previously unbeaten Wilmington Wildcats (4-1) with a certainty that if they got past the Wildcats, their 4-0 league record could carry them to a league title with just Watertown (0-1) left on the schedule in dual meet play. It was mission accomplished for Melrose who dominated Wilmington 60.5-39.5 on Tuesday evening at Boston University.
Melrose was led on the day by several first-place finishes, including some league-best work in field events, including a league-best shot put throw by senior Emme Boyer and a league-best long jump by Cadence L’Heureux. Melrose also saw a critical 1-3 sweep in the 600, 1000 and 1 mile that were key to their points.
Melrose started with a 2nd and 3rd finish in the 55 dash behind the work of Lara McLucas and Ella Walsh, and a first place finish in the 55 hurdles by Lauren Healy.
They really set the tone with a 1-3 sweep of the 1-mile behind the work of Reilly Powell, Cadence L’Heureux and Teagan Altman. They also swept the 600 behind the work of Emma Drago, Ella Yorkey and Jill Frawley. They followed that up with a great first and third place finish by Cadence L’Heureux and Nora McCormack, respectively. The two-mile was equally as successful for Melrose with a 1-2 finish from Reilly Powell and Maizie Frakt.
Cadence L’Heureux and Emme Boyer went on to take the top spots in the long jump and shot and Melrose placed a solid second and third in the high jump behind the work of Boyer (2nd) and Avery Bencal.
Melrose wrapped the night off with a solid first place 4×400 relay run on the legs of Emma Drago, Jill Frawley, Ella Yorkey and Nora McCormack.
Previously, Melrose topped Stoneham, 73-27 in a dominating meet that saw top performances by the team in the 55 dash, 1 mile, 600 and 1000. Those topping the pack included Emme Boyer in the high jump and shot put, Lara McLusas in the 300, Reilly Powell and Grace Jenkins in the 1000, Maizie Frakt and Teagan Altman in the 1 mile, a sweep in the 55 led by Ella Walsh (first) and a sweep in the 600 led by winner Cadence L’Heureux.
Melrose will enjoy a break over the weekend before competing in their last of the Middlesex League dual meets against Watertown next Wednesday, Jan. 15. It is then that they hope to potentially take a second straight ML Freedom title. They will have a busy rest of January and February against statewide competition competing in invitationals and relays so stay tuned.