RallyNorth.net

The River Rival Region's outdoor track season began yesterday with coaches, athletes and spectators longing for the indoors.

The most surprising turn of events came in the boys tri-meet between Newburyport, Triton and Wilmington. Triton fell to Wilmington, 85<1/2> to 59<1/2>, signalling a shift in power in the Cape Ann League. The Triton boys have won four of the last five CAL titles and five of last six CAL Open titles.

Santi Costello's journey to becoming a track standout began unexpectedly.

"When I was 4 years old I got beaten up," he said. "My dad said, 'That's not going to happen again. You're going to learn how to defend yourself.'"

Joe Colbert has shaped one of the area's most dominant powerhouses in his eight-year coaching stint as the Triton boys outdoor track coach.

His Vikings have won four of the last five Cape Ann League regular-season titles and five of their last six CAL Open championships. The team has grown to the point where it annually turns out 70-plus athletes and seems to replace every key senior leader with a talented freshman waiting in the wings.

Coach: Ernie Bissaillon

Number of candidates: 33

Captains: David Dennehy, John Lannon, Ben Lord

Roster: Mike Dragonas, Jeff Fortuna, Gabriel Grosskoph, Bennet Boyes, Kevin Johnston, Kyle Bell, Garrett King, Jeff Larnard, Jon Miller, Marshall Newkirk, Mark Pray, Andrew Saulnier, Peter Siess, Ed Welsh, Tyler Beaupre, Nick Forni, Tor Johannessen, Matt Kilmartin, Stephen Levarity, Kyle Mroz, James Pelkey, George Pinchott, Tyler Rogacki, Luke Shirshac, Jim Callahan, Ethan Pratt, Elie Segal

Coach: Steve Derro (13th season)

Last season: 4-5-1

Returning lettermen: Jon Andreas, sr.; Max Arthur, sr.; Eric Froton, sr.; Eric McDonald, sr.; Adam Roberts, sr.; Jake Buzzell, jr.; Brian Cormier, jr.; Garrett Froton, so.; Dan Kowalewski, so.

Coach: Joe Colbert (8th year)

Last season: 10-0

Returning lettermen: Peter Rock, sr.; Andrew Goodwin, sr.; Corey Denman, sr.; Kyle Devenish, sr.; Harley Cox, sr.; Bill Tindle, jr.; Brian Cosgrove, jr.; Nate Shelter, jr.; Evan Schwarz, jr.; Tom Graham, jr.; Tom Bashaw, so.; Collin Smith, so.; Zack Peabody, so.; Tom Kaminske, so.; Adam Oullette, so.; Joe Gamache, jr.

Coach: Tim Foley (24th season)

Last season: 4-6

Captains: Richie Roy, Richie Pace

Returning lettermen: Mark Bajko, Tom Svirsky, Sean Simon, Luke Earls, Greg Englehart, Sam Bensley, Denis Ipbuken, Nick Welch, Ben Adsit, Thayer Adsit

What are your personal goals for the upcoming track and field season?

Are you aiming to beat your best time in the 100 meter dash? Are you trying to beat the state record throwing the shot put? Are you trying to make it through a hurdle run without knocking any over?

Schedules are now available for the majority of high school baseball, softball, lacrosse and track teams for the 2008 spring season. Over the next couple of weeks, stories previewing what the spring holds for each team, rosters, and team and individual player photographs will begin to appear on RallyNorth. If your team has a schedule or roster that we do not have yet, please e-mail it to rallynorth @eagletribune.com.