RallyNorth.net

BOSTON — Methuen junior Michael O’Donnell felt like a freshman at All-States yesterday.

“Almost everyone else is a senior,” said O’Donnell about his competition. “So going into this I felt like the little guy.”

St. John's Prep sprinter Bryan Browne of Georgetown won the 300 meter (35.72) at the Division 1 state meet yesterday. He was the only local boy to win his event. 

"He's had a phenomenal season," St. John's Prep coach Ray Carey said. "He is going to be seeded fourth likely in All-States and has a great chance to score high." 

O’DONNELL SETS RECORD Methuen’s Michael O’Donnell won the 2-mile in 9:31.58, breaking the previous meet record of 9:33.12. O’Donnell has come a long way. He ran the 1,000 meters in last year’s MVC indoor meet and finished seventh. “I just want to try do my best every time, and if that’s breaking records, then I’m more than happy to do that,” said O’Donnell, who ran a 4:17.05 mile last week. O’Donnell said he believes he will be running the mile at Division 1 States.

Dylan Epstien finished the 50-yard dask i a time of 5.8, takig first place and helping Andover to a fourth place finish (51 points) at yesterday's MVC freshman/sophomore meet.  

Setting a new junior class school record and coming within 0.2 of a second of the overall standard, Methuen's Mike O'Donnell blazed to victory in the 1,000 meter run at the Coaches Elite Meet in Boston.

In the non-league start of what should be a good MVC track rivalry, Andover held off a feisty North Andover squad, 51-35. Pat O'Sullivan won the 600 and pitched in on the Warriors' victorious relay team. Ross Hardy ran a solid 39.1 to win the 300 for North Andover.

Alex Dehullu won the 50 hurdles (6.7) and high jump (6-0) as Central Catholic edged archrival Andover 54-32. Tyler Yeastedt added a 45-9 1/4 in the shot put for the Raiders.

Eric Lacroix boarded the bus yesterday with his Methuen teammates for the ride to Roxbury and the Large School Winter Festival, telling coach Roger Fuller he didn't feel that well. Almost immediately afterward, he dashed to the bus' trash barrel to throw up.

Methuen runners got their season off to a fast start, winning the season's first track meet at Andover, 50-36. Michael O'Donnell (mile), Lucas Parsons (2-mile), Eric Lacroix (300) and Stephen Lilja (600) all drew praise for their fine opening-day times for the Rangers, while the Warriors' Ryan Cooney also impressed in winning the 1,000.