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Masconomet swept the top three spots to prevail in the Interscholastic Meet at Bradford. Jessica Kearns, Sara Heath and Kate Kearns placed 5-6-7 to lead second-place Andover while Kelly O'Connor was a top 10 finisher for North Andover.

Andover got the Merrimack Valley Conference Large Swimming Championships off to a fast start, placing four of the top eight divers on opening day in Lowell.

Freshman Deborah Daly led the way for the Golden Warriors with a score of 245.50 followed by sophomore teammate Jenny Coneeny (222.90 points). Sophomore Courtney Stone finished fifth overall (197.10) and junior Gabrielle Galat was eighth (181.60).

FITCHBURG – Kirsten Kasper ran like she had Red Bull pumping through her veins. The North Andover senior used a blistering last lap to pull away from the field in the mile at yesterday’s Massachusetts All-State Track and Field Championships. She clocked in at 4:49.15, a personal best and an area record.

“I just got a boost of energy,” said Kasper, who according to North Andover distance coach Maggi Murray, ran a 64-second final 400 meters. “I felt really good.”

Newton South’s Bridget Dahlberg was nipping at her heels for the majority of the race, but with about a half-lap to go, Kasper tapped her apparently vast well of speed.

“(Kirsten) just said, ‘no,’” Murray said of Dahlberg’s valiant but ultimately futile attempt at passing Kasper. Then, “(Kirsten) just started going.”

Kasper didn’t stop until she crossed the finish line – four seconds ahead of Dahlberg (4:53.62). Kasper eclipsed Phillips Academy’s Melissa Donais, who set the previous area record (4:53.90) in 2002.

“I was hoping for 4:52 or better,” Murray said. “Under 4:50 would’ve been cake. And it was.”

At this point, Kasper’s not sure if she’s going to run at New Englands in Burlington, Vt., next week or rest to get ready for nationals in Greensboro, N.C., the week after. But whenever she competes next, the Georgetown University-bound Kasper thinks she can go even faster.

“I think so. If I have a competitive pack pushing me,” she said. “I definitely can.”

Kasper’s teammates, like usual, were amazed by her performance.

“She’s ridiculous,” said junior Darryl Varney, who ran a leg of the Scarlet Knights’ 10th-place 4x800 team (8:11.22). “To go under 4:50 for a girl is phenomenal. That’s national caliber.”

Golden rule

Andover senior Rob Martin called it (probably half-jokingly) the happiest moment of his life. The Golden Warriors had just won the team championship with 38.5 points, 9.5 more than second-place Lawrence (29 points).

“We were the only sports team this year to win a state championship,” said Martin, who anchored Andover’s winning 4x400 team. “That says a lot about the track program.”

The quartet, made up of Mark Vetere, Connor O’Neil, Brendan Crawford and Martin, blew away the competition. Their time, 3:22.19, is the third best in area history.

“We beat out the glory sports like football and basketball,” Martin said with a smile. “But it’s good to be the silent victor in school.”

Vetere was once again great in the pole vault, clearing 14-6 to win the event. On the girls side – the Golden Warriors finished seventh with 18 points, 44 points behind champion Mansfield – sophomore Moira Cronin captured the high jump title, clearing 5-6.

Andover junior Christopher McConnell placed second in the 100 (10.87), just getting edged out by Walpole’s Vinnie Lee (10.85). Lawrence junior Francis Nova (11.10) and Central Catholic junior Jayson Martin (11.24) finished third and fifth, respectively.

McConnell had hoped for better. The New England 55-meter champ said he needs to work on his finish. After the first 55, he said, he let up just a little bit. That was enough for Lee to close in.

“I just need to learn how to relax and not get stiff,” said McConnell, who notched a personal-best 10.78 in 2008. “I didn’t do that so well today.”

Andover coach Peter Comeau, however, is sure McConnell hasn’t peaked yet.

“I think we’re in a really good spot with him,” Comeau said.

Lancer pride

Francesco Cuesta didn’t even think he’d run yesterday. A calf injury almost made the Lawrence junior pull out. Still, he laced up his spikes and did his best, which happened to be a second-place finish in the 200.

“After a while I didn’t feel any pain,” Cuesta said.

His 21.74 is the best automatic time in area history, eclipsing the record (21.97) his brother Enrique set in 2004. First-place finisher Evan White of Tewksbury clocked in at 21.66.

The second-place Lancers pulled off an upset in the 4x100, beating favored Andover. Ramses Rafael, Cuesta, Kevin Valerio and Nova sprinted to victory (43.05). The Golden Warriors placed second (43.24).

Leap day

Methuen senior Josh Adams had been waiting all spring for one of these.

“He finally popped one,” coach Nick Collopy said.

Adams placed second in the long jump, sticking a personal-best 22-11. That’s the fifth best leap in area history. He could barely believe it afterward.

“I didn’t think it was 22-11 to be honest,” he said. “But I knew I hit my mark.”

Kramer time

North Andover senior Alex Kramer nearly pulled off a victory in the 2-mile (9:17.11), finishing less than a second beyond champion Coby Horowitz (9:16.90) of Nashoba Regional. It was a new PR for Kramer, who remains eighth all-time in our area rankings.

“My goal coming into outdoor was to go under 9:21 in the 2-mile,” he said. “I was really hoping to win, but I’m not too disappointed.”