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BOSTON — She’s been Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan for her entire career, but yesterday was Andover High senior Jess Salley’s day in the spotlight. Salley soared an indoor personal best 5-5 to capture the Division 1 state high jump in dramatic fashion. For her entire career, Salley has had to take a back seat to her close friend and teammate Moira Cronin. One of the top high jumpers in area history, Salley still was only second best on her own team. But yesterday the University of Virginia bound Cronin, who is still recovering from an left quadriceps injury, was already eliminated. It was just Salley, Newton South junior Nicole Kestenberg and their collective nerves. On the third and  final jump, Salley nailed it, giving her the title. In a heartwarming show of sportsmanship, the happiest person in the Reggie Lewis Center might have been Cronin. The two embraced once, they embraced twice and their smiles could have lit up the Boston skyline. Salley had two strong attempts to equal the meet record of 5-7 ... held by guess who? Ms. Cronin ... but that will have to be for another day, perhaps next week. “It means a lot to have Moira there,” said Salley, who has always been the gracious runner-up to the great Cronin. “It feels great. I’ve practiced so long for 5-5. It’s just one step at a time. My dad always said I had it in me. I knew it. It felt right. Once my feet got over the bar, I knew. I don’t really remember it. I just went to hug Moira.” Cronin quickly put her disappointement behind her. “As much as I was so frustrated, I couldn’t be happier for her,” said Cronin, who tied for fourth. “She’s probably one of my best friends.” Salley, whose impressive resume includes being one of the state’s top high jumpers and pentathletes, admitted it was nice to finally be the one in the limelight. “Moira is a great friend,” said Salley, who is being recruited hard by Richmond and Stonehill. “I never hope she doesn’t do well. If it’s another girl, I hope they lose! But to switch roles (with Moira) it’s weird.” The knee still throbs at times and the cross country season didn’t go according to plan when Salley contracted mononucleosis, but yesterday made all the obstacles seem like distance memories. Is she still subpar? “Apparently not!” said the giddy champion.

“I might hear tonight. It’s Richmond or Stonehill. I’m hoping Richmmond, but i’d be happy with either.”

BISHOP HANGS ON Eve Bishop is a brilliant young woman. MIT doesn’t accept average. Neither does Cornell, where the Andover senior will be attending school next fall. But the science whiz keeps it simple on the track. Her philosophy is elementary but proven: “Just get out as fast as can and catch the competition as soon as possible,” she said. She did that to perfect but then had to hold off Acton-Boxboro’s Maya Jarostchuk to win the 300 meters 40.70-40.83 “I’m satisfied with the place, but I know I can go faster,” said Bishop, who placed fourth last year.

Andover held off Central Catholic to win the Merrimack Valley Conference Meet by a 3-point margin.

Lowell outdistance Andover, 89-79, for the boys' title.

The Andover girls won the 4x400 and 4x200 relays, Moira Cronin cleared 5-6 to tie a 29-year-old record in the high jump and Eve Bishop smashed the 300 mark and also captured the long jump. 

ROXBURY — Eagle-Tribune cross country MVP Maggie Mullins of Andover ran a blistering 10:59.82 to capture the two-mile at the State Coaches Meet yesterday at the Reggie Lewis Center. The hotshot junior now ranks fifth on the all-time area list. Heading into the weekend, only three U.S. schoolgirls had run faster this winter, according to Track and Field News. Mullins was pushed by Franklin senior Megan Ross, who was clocked in 11:02.91. Earlier in the season Mullins ran a 11:03.87. It was a strong day for the area distance runners. Central Catholic junior Lanie Jowett of Atkinson ran a 5:13.75, lopping over three seconds off the school mile mark she set on Wednesday. Teammate Nicolette Pelrine finished just out of the money with a 11:30.69 for seventh in the two-mile. Haverhill’s highly-decorated senior duo of Rebecca Stabile and Julie Solimine strutted their stuff with the former taking third in the 600 meters in 1:36.64 and the latter capturing fifth in the two-mile in 11:24.54. Mansfield’s Kristen McDonagh took home top honors in the high jump with a 5-8 while Andover’s Moira Cronin (5-6) and Jessica Salley (5-4) took the next two spots. Andover’s Chelsea Angelsanto, Eve Bishop, Sydney Eberth and Micaela Soucy finished third in the 4x200 in 1:48.22. The boys’ meet is today at Reggie Lewis.

Area Sub-11 minute club Name    School    Time    Year Kirsten Kasper    North Andover    10:48.68    2009 Mary Schena    Haverhill    10:55.4i    1982 *Helena Kimball    Londonderry    10:58.2    1994 Maggie Mullins    Andover    10:59.82    2011 Colleen McNaughton    Haverhill    10:59.97i    2006

ROXBURY — Eagle-Tribune cross country MVP Maggie Mullins of Andover ran a blistering 10:59.82 to capture the two-mile at the State Coaches meet at the Reggie Lewis Center.
The hotshot junior now ranks fifth on the all-time area list. Heading into the weekend, only three U.S. schoolgirls had run faster this winter according to Track and Field News.
Mullins was pushed by Franklin senior Megan Ross, who was clocked in 11:02.91. Earlier in the season Mullins ran a 11:03.87.

ROXBURY — Eagle-Tribune cross country MVP Maggie Mullins of Andover ran a blistering 10:59.82 to capture the two-mile at the State Coaches Meet yesterday at the Reggie Lewis Center. The hotshot junior now ranks fourth on the all-time area list. Heading into the weekend, only three U.S. schoolgirls had run faster this winter, according to Track and Field News. Mullins was pushed by Franklin senior Megan Ross, who was clocked in 11:02.91. Earlier in the season Mullins ran a 11:03.87. It was a strong day for the area distance runners. Central Catholic junior Lanie Jowett of Atkinson ran a 5:13.75, lopping over three seconds off the school mile mark she set on Wednesday. Teammate Nicolette Pelrine finished just out of the money with a 11:30.69 for seventh in the two-mile. Haverhill’s highly-decorated senior duo of Rebecca Stabile and Julie Solimine strutted their stuff with the former taking third in the 600 meters in 1:36.64 and the latter capturing fifth in the two-mile in 11:24.54. Mansfield’s Kristen McDonagh took home top honors in the high jump with a 5-8 while Andover’s Moira Cronin (5-6) and Jessica Salley (5-4) took the next two spots. Andover’s Chelsea Angelsanto, Eve Bishop, Sydney Eberth and Micaela Soucy finished third in the 4x200 in 1:48.22. The boys’ meet is today at Reggie Lewis. State Coaches Meet Area top-6 finishers: 600: 3. Rebecca Stabile (Hav) 1:36.64; Mile: 4. Lanie Jowett (CC) 5:13.75; 2-mile: 1. Maggie Mullins (And) 10:59.82; 5. Julie Solimine (Hav) 11:24.54; 4x200: 3. Andover (Chelsea Angelosanto, Eve Bishop, Sydney Eberth, Micaela Soucy) 1:48.22; HJ: 2. Moira Cronin (And) 5-6, 3. Jessica Salley (And) 5-4

Haverhill's Rebecca Stabile came in first place in the 600 with a 1:30.1, beating Andover's Jaclyn Torres by two-tenths of a second during Haverhill's loss to Andover, 62-24. Eve Bishop of Andover ran a personal best 38.3 in the 300.

Two locals — Central's Courtney Green and North Andover's Brianna Gagnon — earned second place finishes at the Auerbach freshman/sophomore meet at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Melissa Higgins won a gold medal at the Dartmouth Relays for the second straight year and the Andover girls again flexted their muscles by placing fourth overall.Higgins broke the tape first in the 400 in 59.30. Andover's Maggie Mullins won the 2-mile in a stellar 11:03.87 and teamed with triple-placer Eve Bishop, Sydney Eberth and Jaclyn Torres to capture the sprint medley.