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Caveney dominates for Andover Boosters MVP

Saturday, May, 09 By David Willis
Staff writer

ANDOVER — Even as his times dropped and the number accolades rose, Sean Caveney still found himself a bit in the shadow of superstar teammate and fellow hurdler Sebastian Silveira.

On his home track Saturday, Caveney reminded everyone just how dominant he could be.
The Golden Warrior senior won the 400 hurdles in a school-record 54.33 — second best in area history — was second in the 110 hurdles and ran on the winning 4x110 shuttle hurdle relay on his way to boys MVP honors at the Andover Boosters Collins-McIntyre Invitational.
Andover swept the team competition. The boys surged to victory with 93 points, well ahead of No. 2 North Andover (50). The girls also dominated the field with 80 points, far outdistancing second-place Acton-Boxboro (45).
“It was such an exciting day,” said Caveney. “Last week at the Weston Invitational I ran a great time so I felt like I had it in me. I so, so excited to break the meet record and run my personal best.”
Caveney’s 54.33 broke the Silveira’s school mark (55.37) set last year and trails just the 53.68 run by Methuen’s Dave Ramirez in 1985 for the area record.
Silveira (14.55) did best Caveney (14.74) in the 110 hurdles and they teamed with Andrew Matteucci and Justin Mantrana to win the shuttle hurdles.
Caveney says that despite the constant competition, he and Silveira nothing but embrace the friendly rivalry.
“We are each other’s best competition,” said Caveney. “We keep out competitiveness down and just have a lot of fun. It makes us better. It is awesome going back and fourth with him. Sebastian is a chill guy.”
One record Caveney is eying now is the 300 hurdles mark, owned by his coach Peter Comeau.
“I am excited to have the chance to run that at New Englands,” he said. “I ran it a few weeks ago and coach Comeau’s record was within reach. I want to chase it and get it because we have a little rivalry.”
Morales motivated to dominate
When North Andover’s Jukka Morales was informed his winning 200 time of 22.58 was believed to be a school record, the Scarlet Knights sophomore had one goal in mind.
“I guess that just means I just have to keep breaking it and getting faster,” said Morales with a smile.
Morales used a late push to edge Andover’s Ray Gorzela (22.78) for first place on Saturday.
“I was feeling great coming around the corner,” he said. “It was a really tight race, but I had a nice kick and I was able to get first. I have been training for this all year. I have had a goal to break the school record since I was a freshman, so it feels great. I just have to keep going and hopefully keep winning.”
Samuel keeps winning
In the girls 200, Methuen’s Wileshka Samuel continued her dominant ways, running to victory in 25.52.
“I was actually kind of nervous when I got here and looked at the competition,” said the reigning Eagle-Tribune girls MVP. “But once I got out there and settled down and just focused on winning.”
Unlike last season, when she won at Andover Boosters in a dramatic photo finish, this season, her win was fairly comfortable, ahead of No. 2 Rhyana Freeman of Brookline (26.10).
“I am extremely happy with my performance,” she said. “I really wanted to repeat.”
Johnson finds form
Erika Johnson spent the majority of the spring looking to rediscover her groove after a mishap on ice during the winter led to an injury.
But the Central Catholic senior was in Eagle-Tribune All-Star form yesterday, winning the discus with a 113-7.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I have been trying to get back into form all spring. Last year I won so I really wanted to do it again. All week I was working on my form and making sure my left arm was in the right spot. I know I have more than 113-7 in me, but  I can live with that today.”
Rangers finish upset
Methuen’s Eric Rosario knew he faced a massive task when he took the baton for the 400-meter anchor leg of the distance medley relay.
“I had to close the gap and (Andover star) Hamza (Naveed) is an amazing runner,” he said. “I didn’t know if I could keep up with him. But I just worked to close in and it paid off.
Rosario teamed with Kevin Denose, Peter Kwakye and Kendrick Nenose to take the spring medley in 1:37.33.
“We wanted to come here and earn a time to qualify for nationals,” he said. “Kendrick gave me the baton in great position and I did my job. All I was thinking was ‘Nationals, nationals!’ I want to go so bad.”
Chen looks healthy
Kevin Chen showed no signs of the torn ACL that ended his football season, running a blazing final leg for Andover’s winning 4x100 relay.
“I had a huge lead going to my leg which was awesome,” said Chen. “All those guys ran great and I just had to run as fast as I could and finish it off.”
Chen teamed with Sean Roselle, Ray Gorzela and Kaleb Jones for the win.
“I was a little tired after the 200,” said Gorzela. “But we all just did everything we could to take it home.”
ANDOVER — Even as his times dropped and the number accolades rose, Sean Caveney still found himself a bit in the shadow of superstar teammate and fellow hurdler Sebastian Silveira.
On his home track Saturday, Caveney reminded everyone just how dominant he could be.
The Golden Warrior senior won the 400 hurdles in a school-record 54.33 — second best in area history — was second in the 110 hurdles and ran on the winning 4x110 shuttle hurdle relay on his way to boys MVP honors at the Andover Boosters Collins-McIntyre Invitational.
Andover swept the team competition. The boys surged to victory with 93 points, well ahead of No. 2 North Andover (50). The girls also dominated the field with 80 points, far outdistancing second-place Acton-Boxboro (45).
“It was such an exciting day,” said Caveney. “Last week at the Weston Invitational I ran a great time so I felt like I had it in me. I so, so excited to break the meet record and run my personal best.”
Caveney’s 54.33 broke the Silveira’s school mark (55.37) set last year and trails just the 53.68 run by Methuen’s Dave Ramirez in 1985 for the area record.
Silveira (14.55) did best Caveney (14.74) in the 110 hurdles and they teamed with Andrew Matteucci and Justin Mantrana to win the shuttle hurdles.
Caveney says that despite the constant competition, he and Silveira nothing but embrace the friendly rivalry.
“We are each other’s best competition,” said Caveney. “We keep out competitiveness down and just have a lot of fun. It makes us better. It is awesome going back and fourth with him. Sebastian is a chill guy.”
One record Caveney is eying now is the 300 hurdles mark, owned by his coach Peter Comeau.
“I am excited to have the chance to run that at New Englands,” he said. “I ran it a few weeks ago and coach Comeau’s record was within reach. I want to chase it and get it because we have a little rivalry.”
Morales motivated to dominate
When North Andover’s Jukka Morales was informed his winning 200 time of 22.58 was believed to be a school record, the Scarlet Knights sophomore had one goal in mind.
“I guess that just means I just have to keep breaking it and getting faster,” said Morales with a smile.
Morales used a late push to edge Andover’s Ray Gorzela (22.78) for first place on Saturday.
“I was feeling great coming around the corner,” he said. “It was a really tight race, but I had a nice kick and I was able to get first. I have been training for this all year. I have had a goal to break the school record since I was a freshman, so it feels great. I just have to keep going and hopefully keep winning.”
Samuel keeps winning
In the girls 200, Methuen’s Wileshka Samuel continued her dominant ways, running to victory in 25.52.
“I was actually kind of nervous when I got here and looked at the competition,” said the reigning Eagle-Tribune girls MVP. “But once I got out there and settled down and just focused on winning.”
Unlike last season, when she won at Andover Boosters in a dramatic photo finish, this season, her win was fairly comfortable, ahead of No. 2 Rhyana Freeman of Brookline (26.10).
“I am extremely happy with my performance,” she said. “I really wanted to repeat.”
Johnson finds form
Erika Johnson spent the majority of the spring looking to rediscover her groove after a mishap on ice during the winter led to an injury.
But the Central Catholic senior was in Eagle-Tribune All-Star form yesterday, winning the discus with a 113-7.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I have been trying to get back into form all spring. Last year I won so I really wanted to do it again. All week I was working on my form and making sure my left arm was in the right spot. I know I have more than 113-7 in me, but  I can live with that today.”
Rangers finish upset
Methuen’s Eric Rosario knew he faced a massive task when he took the baton for the 400-meter anchor leg of the distance medley relay.
“I had to close the gap and (Andover star) Hamza (Naveed) is an amazing runner,” he said. “I didn’t know if I could keep up with him. But I just worked to close in and it paid off.
Rosario teamed with Kevin Denose, Peter Kwakye and Kendrick Nenose to take the spring medley in 1:37.33.
“We wanted to come here and earn a time to qualify for nationals,” he said. “Kendrick gave me the baton in great position and I did my job. All I was thinking was ‘Nationals, nationals!’ I want to go so bad.”
Chen looks healthy
Kevin Chen showed no signs of the torn ACL that ended his football season, running a blazing final leg for Andover’s winning 4x100 relay.
“I had a huge lead going to my leg which was awesome,” said Chen. “All those guys ran great and I just had to run as fast as I could and finish it off.”
Chen teamed with Sean Roselle, Ray Gorzela and Kaleb Jones for the win.
“I was a little tired after the 200,” said Gorzela. “But we all just did everything we could to take it home.”