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Sat, Jun 05, 2010 03:00 PM @ Andover

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Andover sprints way to second straight title

Sunday, June, 06 By David Willis
Staff writer

WESTFIELD — Through all of his track records and accomplishments, Andover star Christopher McConnell had never earned outdoor All-State track gold.

Yesterday, McConnell left the field with a pair of personal titles and a team crown.

A two-hour bus ride, a 30-minute rain relay and a handful of competitors taking SATs could not derail the Andover High boys, which repeated as the Massachusetts All-State track champs last night.

The Golden Warriors earned the crown with 59 points, outdistancing New Bedford (43). Upset-minded Methuen finished with a stellar third place with 27 points.

The Andover girls finished in fifth place with 27 points. Newton North (40) took first.

“Unbelievable,” said Andover coach Peter Comeau. “We went undefeated, winning every meet we entered this year. It is a great day for Andover track.”

“I blew it sophomore and junior year,” said McConnell. “After leading for 97 meters they caught up to me both times with three left. This is all I thought about for the last year. All outdoor and indoor. It’s great to be indoor state champ (he won five, three in the 55 meters, twice in relays), but if you want to be seen as a true sprinter you have to prove it indoor and outdoor. I hadn’t done that.”

McConnell flew to victory in the 100 with a 10.75, matching his all-time Eagle-Tribune area record he set two weeks ago.

“I didn’t feel great coming out of the blocks,” he said. “But I drove hard at the beginning, had to get acceleration and not tense up. That’s where I had lost it in the past. I saw people in front of me, but kept digging. I had a feeling I won. I feel more confident as a sprinter now.”

McConnell and crew added another title to the trophy case hours later, when he teamed with Pat Farnham, Kerrick Stevens and Troy Cayon to take the 4x100 in 42.37, shattering the Eagle-Tribune area record (42.63) it set at the conference meet.

“It was awesome,” said Farnham, who also took fourth in the 200. “It’s tough to be the top seed because everyone is looking at you and talking about you. But we did our jobs.”

McConnell could be seen pumping his fist as he heard they had broken the record.

“We just wanted to run a personal best,” he said. “But it goes to show you, good handoffs and it’s a state record. (Lawrence star Francis) Nova was running with me, and I just pulled away.”

Moments after the 4x100 win, the 4x400 team did the same. But it did not look promising, as the Warriors were running in third when Connor O’Neill took the baton for his third leg.

“That was not where we wanted to be,” said O’Neill. “I was the fresh one, so I knew I had to make up for it. Once I passed the first person, I got a boost, and I got that boost after I passed the others, then I was in first.”

Thanks to O’Neill’s stellar leg, the Golden Warriors took first in 3:19.06, smashing their own area record by over two seconds. The 4x800 added a second, behind just Methuen.

“We didn’t know if our leadoff leg (Adam Vetere) would be running because he was pole vaulting,” said Simon Voorhees. “But, about a minute before the race, he comes running over and runs a great leg. Very dramatic.”

Mark Vetere chipped in with a second in the 400.

Andover girls won’t settle

Following her anchor leg of the 4x100, Andover’s Kayla Baldwin jumped with excitement.

“We were seeded second,” she said. “But we weren’t going to settle for that. We knew we had the speed to do it. We weren’t letting anyone by us.”

The Golden Warriors took first in the 4x100 in a blistering 48.42, besting the Eagle-Tribune area record (48.26) set by Andover three years ago.

Methuen turns in stunning effort

By the time Jared Reddy took the baton for the final leg of the 4x800, it was long over.

“We were hoping for a top-6 (finish) so we could go to New Englands,” said Ben Pare. “We had no idea we could do this. To take first is unbelievable.”

The Rangers blew away the field in the 4x800 with a 7:52.45, the second best in area history behind the Methuen squad of four years ago. Andover was second (7:55.54).

“We got out so fast and just kept going,” said Reddy. “Now that we have done this, we know that the record is in reach.”

Pare added a second in the mile (4:17.36), while Reddy was fourth in the 2-mile (9:24.07).

Also adding a first was Lawrence’s Francesco Cuesta, who won the 200 in 21.93.

“I felt like I could have done better,” said Cuesta, who repeated as the All-State 200 champ. “But I am thankful to be a state champion.”

Poretta’s long day

It was a marathon day for Pentucket’s Alanna Poretta.

At 10 a.m., Poretta was at Pentucket High School accepting her diploma at the school’s graduation. She then made then made the long drive to All-States, and was still able to finish third in the mile with a 5:00.46, the area’s best this season.

“Sitting in the sun (at graduation) took a little bit out of me,” she said. “It was a long day. But I felt like the whole day was a success.”

Another Cape Ann League star stood out in the mile for the boys, with North Andover’s Darryl Varney taking third (4:17.79)

“It felt great,” said Varney. “I wanted to break 4:20, and I did it. I wanted to get out as fast as possible.”

Haverhill’s Rebecca Stabile added a sixth in the 400 hurdles.