GIULIANA LIGOR stands atop the podium in the 400-meter hurdles. She won her state championship with a time of 1:02.69 at the All-State Meet of Champions held at Fitchburg State University. (NRHS Track Photo)
FITCHBURG — Capping off an historic outdoor track and field season, the NRHS girls’ track and field team had several athletes compete at the Meet of Champions on June 1 and June 3 at Fitchburg State University.
The Meet of Champions is where the top athletes in Massachusetts across all six divisions come together to compete and determine who the best of the best truly is. The Hornets had eight athletes qualify to compete at this prestigious event.
Annalise Butler took 21st in the Two Mile (11:51.25). Hayden MacLellan qualified in two events taking 12th in the 100 Meter Hurdles with a time of 15.87 seconds and 17th in the Pole Vault with a clearance of 9’ 0”. Abigail Gerber took 28th in the Discus Throw (93’ 1”) and 4th in the Javelin Throw (119’ 1”) which was a new personal best and ranks her 4th all time in school history. Abigail Lilley also performed exceptionally taking 3rd and earning a bronze medal in the Discus Throw with a toss 115’ 4”. Madison Vant was 14th in the Long Jump (16’ 10”) and just missed the finals by 2 inches. She was also 9th in the Javelin Throw (114’ 2”) just missing 8th place by a foot.
The Hornets had a total of three athletes qualify in the Long Jump with Georgia Robarts (15’ 5”) and Ava McIntyre also contesting the event. Ava’s jump of 17’ .75” was good enough for 7th place.
Sophomore sensation Giuliana Ligor was the Hornet standout. She contested three events. She anchored the 4×100 meter relay to an 8th place finish in 50.44 along with Georgia Robarts, Madison Vant and Ava McIntyre. She also took 3rd place in a competitive 400 Meter Dash where the top six athletes all went sub 58 seconds. Her time of 57.03 was off of her personal best time of 56.31 but was an incredible achievement that just two days prior she contested the 400 Meter Hurdles.
It was in the 400 Meter Hurdles that she won her Massachusetts championship beating all other athletes with a time of 1:02.69. This was a new personal best and ranks her 7th in the nation amongst all sophomore students with the top time in the country currently standing at 1:01.49 for the grade. She currently ranks in the top 50 in the event among all athletes in all grades in the United States.
The Hornets will travel to Philadelphia this weekend to compete in the New Balance National Championships at the University of Pennsylvania at historic Franklin Field. Gerber and Vant will contest the Javelin Throw, Lilley the Discus Throw, McIntyre and Vant the Long Jump and Ligor the 400 Meter Hurdles. Robarts, Vant, McIntyre and Ligor will also join forces to contest the 4×100 Meter Relay and the 800 Meter Sprint Medley Relay.