THE MHS girls track team started their season off with a win at the new beautiful, Track at New Balance Center in Watertown. (courtesy photo)
Season opening win over Watertown a great start
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High girls indoor track team picked up a season-opener win over Watertown last week, 60-39, during their season opener at the Track at New Balance in Watertown, an impressive new facility that Melrose will compete their dual meets at this winter.
Melrose begins their season 1-0 as they anticipate a Dec. 30 meet against Burlington and a meet against Wakefield this Thursday (post deadline). Both will be considered key in their fight for a ML Freedom title this year.
This season Melrose is led by captains Jillian Bakey, Meghan Radzik and Gabrielle Hill. They will lead a Melrose team that shows promise in both field and distance events, and of course, sprinting.
“I think the high jump and long jump look really good,” confirms returning head coach Shannon Kane. She notes that two of her jumpers, Sophia McElligott and Scarlett Timm have already qualified for post season.
And distance is certainly a strength. Against Watertown, Melrose’s Cadence L’Heureux wowed with a first-place finish in the mile and a third place among all Middlesex League runners. Melrose also took the 600 with Ava Picone placing first and Darby Thompson in 3rd. Jillian Bakey took second in the two mile, representing Melrose’s best time. Maizie Frakt was second in the 1000 followed by Violeta Rechea. Melrose’s Jill Frawley prevailed in the 300.
“We always have a strong distance team, so we’ve been working really hard with our sprinters and hurdlers,” says the coach.
It showed. Melrose had a great 55 hurdles with a second-place finish by Amara Otaluka followed by finishes from Hannah Jones and Sofia Sullivan. The 55 dash was also impressive with a win by D’Mitra Mukasa and an impressive freshman performance by Sofia McElligott who was right behind her.
“I thought our sprinters and hurdlers were light years above where they were last year,” confirms the coach. “It showed in the Watertown meet.”
Field events also proved successful for Melrose, who took second and third in the shot put behind the work of Noelle L’Heureux and Ruby Rosnov, respectively. In the long jump, Melrose took first and third behind the work of D’Mitra Mukasa and Amara Otaluka. Melrose swept the high jump thanks to a 1-2 sweep from Sophia McElligott and Scarlet Timm.
Melrose’s relay teams both came in first with their 4×400 team of Darby Thompson, Amy Rowe, Ava Picone, and Cadence L’Heureux topping their Watertown competitors and 4×200 team of Megan Radzik, Alison Doherty, Amara Otaluka and Isabelle Chardavoyne who also prevailed in their race.
After the holiday break, Melrose will resume their dual league meet season against Burlington, who they look to top to go 2-0.