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BOSTON — Local track and field athletes came up big at the New England Championships Saturday afternoon at the Reggie Lewis Track.

Haverhill senior Jayla Kitchings broke her own school record with an 8.36 in the 55-meter hurdles. The All-State champion trailed only Connecticut's brilliant sophomore Tess Stapleton (8.19/19-1.5) who won the hurdles and the long jump.

The Methuen 4x400 team of seniors Eric Salvo, Max Fotino and Roan Marcano and junior Stanley Hanci continued its record-setting ways. They crossed the line in 3:23.51, slicing 0.45 seconds off the school indoor record it set just last week in grabbing the silver at All-States. Brockton High again took top honors.

Ranger senior Sara Fragione smashed her own 1,000-meter record for the third time this season with a 2:58.07 for sixth. She went from last to sixth in the last lap. The previous standard was the Dartmouth recruit's 3:00.01 last week. 

Coach Brittany Caprio said, "Sara's confidence carried her through her race to make a huge move in her final straightaway."

The North Andover boys and girls were again ready for the challenge.

Junior Sarah Lavery tied for third in the high jump (5-5), senior Trevor Nassar grabbed sixth in the 300 (35.38) and the girls 4x800 team of Courtney Dalke, Kelcey Dion, Ainsley Dion and Aisling Callahan took seventh in 9:39.60. Nassar eclipsed his own school record of 35.55.

Pinkerton's last competition was Division 1 States way back on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 3) but like the Patriots, the Astros just do their job.

Especially Adam Spencer.

The senior was fourth in the hurdles (7.66) and teamed with Patrick Cotnoir, Ryan Dane and Conor Seleny to placed fifth in the 4x200 in 1:32.11. The relay was seeded just 19th but smashed the school record.

Delia Barbanti led the Andover girls with a seventh in the 300 (40.79) and a fourth in the 4x200 in 1:44.70. In the relay she teamed with Julia Sergeant, Grace Dunn, Julianna Kennedy.

Other area placers were Pentucket's Madi Krohto, who tied for eighth in the high jump (5-3) and Davidson recruit Jack Curtin of Andover and St. John's Prep, who was third in the long jump (22-7.25).

Two of the dominant athletes on the day in the girls' meet were Connecticut junior sprinters Terry Miller and Andraya Yearwood, who are both transgender athletes.

 Pentucket junior Madi Krohto led all local athletes at the MSTCA Pentathlon for girls, taking sixth with a score of 3019. She had the second fastest time in the 55 hurdles with an 8.72, a personal-best by more than a foot in the long jump with a 17-4 and high jumped 5-1 3/4. Also, her shot put throw of 29-4 was a PR by three feet.

BOSTON — Haverhill senior Jayla Kitchings beat a star-studded field to win the girls 55-meter hurdles Saturday at the All-State Meet at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Sara Fragione of Methuen won 600 in 1:38.71 at the Last Chance to Qualify Meet. Pentucket's Madi Krohto was second in the 55 hurdles (8.74). Andover won the 4x55 shuttle hurdles.

The North Andover girls track team dominated the 600 at Friday's Frosh/Soph meet. Kelcey Dion took first (1:46.5) followed by Ainsley Dion in second (1:46.6) and Courtney Dalke in third (1:47.3). In total, the Knights won six of the 10 events.

Central Catholic sophomore Katharine Duren sprinted to first in the 55-meter hurdles at Saturday's Large School State Coaches Invite with a blistering time of 8.47. That time broke the previous school record held since 2005. Duren beat a loaded 55 hurdle race that included Haverhill's Jayla Kitchings (2nd, 8.55), and Andover's Kassie Brink (5th, 8.88) and Jodi Parrott (7th, 8.98).

Haverhill's Jayla Kitchings won the 55 hurdles (8.76) and took second in the long jump (16-6) at the MVC Meet on Thursday. Fellow Hillie Gabrielle DeRoche won the 2-mile while Central Catholic's Sarah Janco took the high jump.

North Andover's girls showed good depth and went undefeated on the day in Wednesday's all-league MVC meet. Courtney Dalke won the 1,000 for the Knights, Sarah Lavery was first in the high jump (5-4), Emma Martin took top homors in the long jump (16-5) ) and the Knights finished first in the 4x200 and second in the 4x400 relays. Jayla Kitchings was first in the 55 hurdles and Tara Thompson was first in the shot put for Haverhill.