RallyNorth.net

Sat, May 27, 2017 10:00 AM @ Andover

Team	Final
Haverhill	4
Lawrence	3
Methuen	2
at Andover	1

Final relay wins it for Andover girls

LOWELL — The butterflies were working overtime in the stomach of Hannah Lansberry and her 4x400 teammates as they took the track for the final event on Saturday.

The fate of the entire Andover High track team, after all, rested solely on their shoulders.

“We were definitely very nervous,” said Lansberry. “We knew the team was relying on us and we didn’t want to let them down. There were great teams pushing us to run our best time, and we knew that we could do it.”

Needing to take at least fourth to clinch the team title, the Golden Warrior foursome blasted out to a fast start and ran away with the 4x400 title in 4:01.36 to give the Andover High girls their third straight Eastern Mass. Division 1 crown. The Warriors finished with 84.5 points, edging Newton South (79), which did not place in the 4x400. The Andover boys placed an area-best 13th.

“It’s so amazing to clinch this meet for the team,” said Julianna Kennedy, the third leg of the relay. “We have worked so hard for this. We knew we needed five points to assure the win, and it was just so exciting. It’s amazing to win again.”

Lansberry and Kennedy were joined on the relay by Emma Joel and anchor Delia Barbanti.

“My team is usually always in the lead and I never want to let them down in the end,” said Barbanti. “I just pushed as hard as I could. Crossing the finish line was amazing.”

Warriors coach Peter Comeau said he was completely confident in his team.

“It was nerve-wracking, but as soon as Emma took off we knew we had it,” said Comeau. “These girls ran individual events then came through and won the relay. It’s very humbling to win the meet again.”

Following the relay the Warriors celebrated the three-peat with the title trophy.

“We’ve been working for this since the winner and to win it a third time is amazing,” said Joel. “We knew there were excellent teams, but we were confident. We just had to give it our all.”

Football brings Bennett to javelin

Looking for a new event this spring, Andover’s Ally Bennett found inspiration in an unlikely place.

“I used to be really good at flag football,” said Bennett with a laugh. “So I thought being able to throw a football would transfer to throwing a javelin.”

That success on the flag gridiron has apparently proven a huge boost for Bennett.

In her first year in the event, the junior won javelin gold with a school-record throw of 118-2. It broke Erin Logee’s mark set last season.

“I’m so thrilled,” she said. “I hadn’t really thrown over 110 and have only been throwing the javelin for a few months, so this is very exciting. I felt like my plant step clicked more than it had in a while, and I knew the throw was going to be a good one. I was so excited after that.”

Rosario rocks the hurdles

Following the hurdles, plenty of onlookers were talking about the performance of Lawrence’s RosaLinda Rosario.

The Lancers junior ran to second in the 100 hurdles in 15:43, just being winner Kristen Hohenstein of Chelmsford (15.07).

“I feel great,” said Rosario. “I would have loved to win, but I set a new PR and am really happy with what I was able to do today.”

It has been a breakout spring for Rosario, who won the Merrimack Valley Conference title last week.

“I think I’ve improved so much in the last year,” said Rosario. “I didn’t think I would ever be here, but I worked hard and here I am. I just want to keep working harder.”

Brink jumps to win

Kassie Brink had just over a minute to rest between qualifying for the finals in the 100 hurdles and her final jump of the day. Her legs were tired, but they had plenty of spring left in them.

“I was so warm because I had just run the hurdles,” said Brink. “My legs were tired but felt great. I felt like I would do well, but I didn’t know if I could win.”

Brink took the triple jump title with a personal best of 36-8.75, a full foot better than No. 2 Marie Elsyee of Brockton (35-8).

“I jumped my personal best so it is so exciting,” said Brink, who was also sixth in the 100 hurdles. “I was fourth here last year, and I knew I could do better this year.”

Methuen’s Fragione sets record

Just a sophomore, nerves hit Methuen’s Sara Fragione very hard as she prepared to run the 800.

“I was about to have a panic attack,” said Fragione. “I knew my coaches had high expectations. But they told me they believed in me and to just stay with the girls and run my race.”

Fragione ended up setting a new Methuen High record in the 800 in 2:17.15 on her way to fourth place.

“I am so hyped,” she said. “It felt great. I was two seconds away from the record, so I didn’t think I would break it this meet or this season. I didn’t see the time at first, but by the way I felt after the race I thought I had beaten the record. My coaches told me I had broken it and I was just so happy.”

MIAA EMass Division 1 State boys Meet

Top team scores plus locals (34 teams scored): 1. Lowell 79.5, 2. BC High 67, 3. Newton North 66, 4. Acton-Boxboro 56, 5. Somerville 51; Also: 13(t). Andover 22, 27. Lawrence 4, 31(t). Haverhill 2, 34. Methuen 1

Area placers (top 8):

Pole vault: 5. Chris Casey (And) 11-6, 6. John Wacome (and) 11-6; Long jump: 8. Saul Cespedes (Meth) 20-6.5; 110 hurdles: 5. Steven Morillo (Law) 15.14, 6. Owen Mosher (And) 15.41, 7. Graham Scott (And) 15.54; 800: 2. Devin Connell (And) 1:53.96, 8. Keith May (Hav) 1:58.87; 200: 7. Andrew Lucia (And) 22.92, 8. Sean Glass (Hav) 23.17

MIAA EMass Division 1 State girls Meet

Top team scores plus locals (31 teams scored): 1. Andover 84.5, 2. Newton South 79, 3. Newton North 49, 4. Chelmsford 43, 5. Billerica 40; Also: 18(t). Methuen 14, 21(t). Haverhill 10, 24. Lawrence 8.5

Area placers (top 8):

Pole vault: 2. Audrey Tarbox (And) 9-6, 3. Gina Campbell (And) 9-0, 4(t). Anna Livingstone (And) 8-0, 7. Karli Pearce (And) 8-0; Shot put: 2. Tony Kobelski (And) 34-0; Javelin: 1. Ally Bennett (And) 118-2; Triple jump: 1. Kassie Brink (And) 36-8.75

100 hurdles: 2. RosaLinda Rosario (Law) 15.43, 4. Jayla Kitchings (Hav) 15.51, 6. Brink (And) 16.00, 7. Sammy Shea (And) 16.41; 4x100 relay: 3. Andover 49.81; 400: 3. Hannah Lansberry (And) 58.36, 5. Delia Barbanti (And) 58.75, 6. Julianna Kennedy (And) 58.78; 400 hurdles: 7. Kacey DePina (Methuen) 68.01, 8. Luana Machado (Methuen) 69.13; 800: 4. Sara Fragione (Methuen) 2:17.15; 2-mile: 4. Gabrielle DeRoche (Hav) 11:50.39, 6. Sarah Cain (And) 11:59.27; 4x400 relay: 1. Andover (Lansberry, Emma Joel, Kennedy, Barbanti) 4:01.36, 3. Methuen 4:05.04; 4x800: 8. Andover 9:57.22