Post-publication update: Melrose Girls’ Outdoor Track team wins MSTCA D4 Relay State Championship (May 17)
Published May 16, 2025
Girls’ track team wins Freedom League
By JENNIFER GENTILE
LEXINGTON—The Melrose High girls outdoor track team are Middlesex Freedom League champions after a clean sweep of the league 5-0, with back-to-back wins over Watertown and Wilmington to finish their dual season perfect, as they now eye the ML 12 League Championship and post season, state wide racing.
Melrose dominated Watertown on May 8, and followed that with a victory over Wilmington on Tuesday at Lexington High.
This is the first league title in at least ten years for Melrose and a repeat title from the school’s indoor track season in February.
A proud coach Shannon Kane saluted her team for their effort. “They work extremely well together, always motivating and hyping each other up. They make each other feel confident even in situations where they might not be. It fosters a great environment where the girls aren’t afraid to take risks and push themselves.”
Against Watertown, Melrose saw several fantastic first-place finishes, events sweeps and milestones. It was an impressive day for freshman Ella Walsh, who swept the entire field with first-place finishes in the 100m and 200m. Reilly Powell topped the entire field with a first place finish in the 1-mile. Cadence L’Heureux also placed first among everyone in the long jump. Emme Boyer once again outshot everyone in the shot put and javelin, and the 4×100 relay team of Emma Drago, Ella Walsh, Abby Taylor and Lara McLucas prevailed among all competition as well.
Cadence L’Heureux also was a big winner at the 2025 Andover Invitational, where she outran the entire field in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:07.11, making her a great candidate for league and possible state champion. L’Heureux is also a strong contender for a league title in the long jump.
Says coach Kane, “We have a good amount of depth and young talent who have really just skyrocketed our team to success.”
That talent was on display in a collective effort in their wins over Watertown and Wilmington. Against the Watertown Raiders they saw nice performances from those who cracked the top three including: Nia West in the 100m, Emma Drago in the 200m, a sweep in the 400 by Cadence L”Heureux, Katie Leeman and Ella Yorkey, a sweep in the 800 by Nora McCormack, Maizie Frakt, Zoe Audet and Violet Rechea; second place finish by Naomi Breay in the 1 mile; a second and third place finish in the high jump by Sofia Papatsoris and Amelia Kelley; a second and third place finish in the long jump by Amelia Kelley and Lara Mclucas; a second place finish by Olivia Dellaporta in shot, discus and javelin; a first place finish in the javelin by Aislin Donegan, and third place finish in that event by Simone Garland.
Collectively, Melrose has the depth to see a very deep post season, what could see Melrose contender for state medals. But first, they will compete in the 2025 ML Championship on Wednesday, May 21 at Burlington High.
Summarizes the coach, “No matter if they are on JV or varsity, this track team is special because we all worked together to reach our goal of league champs.”