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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.”

HINGHAM — North Andover seniors Kirsten Kasper and Alex Kramer both set meet records at the Eastern Massachusetts Division 2 championships.

The Georgetown University-bound Kasper won the mile in 4:55.80, beating the mark (4:58.30) set by Lincoln-Sudbury’s Lindsay Donaldson in 2002. Only Melissa Donais of Phillips Academy has run a faster mile (2002, 4:53.90) in the area.

ANDOVER — Adderly Gonzalez spent the week stewing.

“I just felt like the world came down on me,” he said.

At last Saturday’s Merrimack Valley Conference meet, the Lawrence High junior missed the 800 because of a mix-up. By the time he realized there was only one heat, not two, it was already a lap into a race. Gonzalez and his extended family — in town from New York — were out of luck.

Phillips Andover nipped archrival Exeter, 74-71, behind the heroics of Malcolm Mason-Rodriguez, who won the long jump (22-4 1/4) and triple jump (46-2 1/4) with a pair of terrific performances.

Needing to win the final event to clinch the meet, Liam Cregan, Dan Kaepplinger, John Slakey and Nick Capezzuto ran away with the 4x400 relay in 3:47.8 to give North Reading boys track a 77-68 victory over Lynnfield. James Lawlor added victories in the 400 hurdles and 800.

The North Andover boys track team dropped Masconomet, 82-63, to finish at a perfect 10-0 and claim the Cape Ann League title. Both Dylan Lurvey (shot put, discus) and Erik Swahn (110 hurdles, 400 hurdles) were double winners for the Knights.

Triton's Billy Tindle won three events — the 400 hurdles (1:00.0), 100 hurdles (15.6) and long jump (19-2). Neal Lojek (2-mile, 11:10), Adam Jones (triple jump, 39-2), Adam Oullet (shot put, 41-9; discus, 124-0), Pete Buswell (pole vault, 11-0), Nate Shelter (mile, 4:43), Jared White (400, 54.7), Brian Cosgrove (800, 2:08.0), and Triton 4x100 relay team of Nate Allard, Justin Paquette, Pader Franson, and Luis Cruz (47.0) also placed first for Triton (8-2).

Kobe Green-Jackson (third in long jump, first in high jump, third in 100) and Bryan Trickett (first in javelin, second in 200) came up big for Whittier as the Wildcats finished in a first place tie with Chelsea at the CAC Championship meet. Green-Jackson and Trickett also joined Paul Buccos and Tyler Page on the winniner 4x100 relay team.

North Andover turned in a strong third-placed effort at the MSTC Relays. The Knights got new school records in the 4xmile, distance medley and triple jump. Alex Kramer had a monster day with two-sub-4:24 miles, leaper Alex Grimble helped the Knights to two silver medals, Rob Hennessy starred on both distance record-setters and Allan Marcus also had a big day in the jumps (42 in triple jump and 20 in long jump.)

The Amesbury boys lost their dual meet to Hamilton Wenham, 91-54.  Placing first for Amesbury were Matt Kilmartin (shot put), Steven Levarity (discus), Kevin Johnston (100m), Peter Siess (mile), Mike Dragonas (400m hurdles), and James Pelkey (javelin).