NORTH ANDOVER — The Wakefield High girls’ track and field team traveled to Merrimack College for the Div. 4 state championship meet on Friday and Sunday. After multiple impressive performances, Wakefield finished 12th overall out of 32 teams.
“It was a solid, team effort,” said head coach Karen Barrett.
On Friday, sophomore Quin Wilcox got Wakefield’s state meet off to an impressive start, breaking the school record in the 800 and placing 2nd overall with a time of 2:17.57. She broke the record of 2:17.7 set by Sammy Seabury in 2022.
Wilcox finished just behind Bedford junior Zadie Buckley who was 1st in 2:17.24. Buckley was a half-step ahead of Wilcox and two others right at the finish line.
“She ran such a smart race and I am so proud of her,” said Barrett of Wilcox.
Also on Friday, freshman Ella Ferrell took 4th overall in the 2 mile with a new PR of 11:23.44.
“She continues to impress me with the way she competes,” said Barrett. “Quin and Ella both work so hard and have amazing futures in track.”
Headlines from Sunday included the 4×800 relay team who placed 4th overall and set a new school record time of 9:47.17. The 4×800 included Wilcox, Ferrell, senior Lily Sallee and junior Liza Bangtson.
Wilcox continued her impressive state meet on Sunday with another 2nd place finish in the mile with a PR of 5:08.1, less than a second behind 1st place Annabelle Lynch, a senior of Holliston who went 5:07.39.
“She ran a smart, gutsy race and I couldn’t be more proud of her,” said Barrett.
Ferrell also competed in the mile, taking 11th overall in 5:33.03.
Junior Maya Palic cleared 5 feet for the first time in the high jump, placing 8th and earning a medal.
More highlights from Friday included sophomore Isabella Fusco who was 24th in the 400 meter hurdles with a PR of 1:13.40; Bangtson was 19th in the 800 in 2:27.63 and senior Grace Brackett ran a season-best 12:15.04 in the 2 mile to take 17th.
More highlights from Sunday included junior Brendia Diaz who was 11th in the javelin with a 91’01” and the 4×400 relay team (Abby Hartigan, Guerly Joseph, Shane Revah and Talia Galante) which finished in 12th with a 52.66.