It was simply hard to believe what I was seeing. Not once, but twice.
First, in the 800 meeters, I watched Newton North's Carolyn Ranti negotiate a 67-second first lap, trailing Lincoln-Sudbury's Dana Jamieson and Molly Binder ans Chelmsford's Sarah Shanahan. At the start of the 2nd lap, Jamieson and Binder accelerated. Ranti matched their acceleration but still trailed, running faster than she ever had in an 800. But she did not fade, in fact, in the final 100 meters, she caught and passed Binder, and she was running down Jamieson. In case you weren't paying close attention, let me repeat that, she caught and passed Binder (the All-State champion at 1000m), and she was running down Jamieson (A 57-second 400m runner). Jamieson won, in 2:14.13, and Carolyn flashed across the line less than a second later in 2:14.97. It was a PR by more than 5 seconds.
I was still buzzing from that race, when they started the seeded heat of the girls two mile. I was pretty sure that nothing would top that 800, but the 2M did top it. The race featured four great runners -- Jess Barton, Bridget Dahlberg, Emily Jones, and Colleen Wetherbee -- who had never before all run in the same race. Each one of these girls is a MULTIPLE all-state champion. The race started slowly, with Barton taking the early lead through a pedestrian first lap of 82 seconds ("only" 10:56 pace). Shortly thereafter, Emily Jones took over the lead and the pace began to drop as Jones started reeling off 80-second laps. She hit the mile in 5:26 and the pack of four was still intact, but just barely. Dahlberg was in second, with Barton right behind, and Wetherbee struggling to maintain the ever-quickening pace. At that point, Jones put the hammer down, running her next two laps in 78.9 and 76.5. Wetherbee was gone, swallowed up into the night. Dahlberg fought briefly, and then cracked and gave up the chase. With 800m to go, only Barton still had a chance to catch the breakaway, but she was now 20-30 meters back, and Jones was flying. On Lap 7, the gap widened more, then stabilized. Finally, it seemed, the pace was catching up with Jones -- had it taken a greater toll on Jess? Apparently not. As she began her final circuit beneath the lights, she found another gear and began the desperate process of reeling in the runner ahead. Although she had been running quite fast, she was suddenly running as though possessed. Down the backstretch she accelerated, around the final turn and into the final straight, energizing the crowd as her sprint cut seconds out of Jones' lead.
But the gap was too great and Jones held on. With a last lap of about 76, she had run a personal best of 10:34.78, the fifth fastest 2M in the country for HS girls this season. Jess finished close behind, running 10:37.11, a personal best by 20 seconds. Dahlberg finished third in 10:52, a fine time and her first time under 11 minutes.
Even more amazing than the results were the splits, in particular, Jess's splits. After her first mile in 5:27, she ran the second mile in 5:10, her final 800 in 2:34, and her final lap in 73.7. It was a remarkable performance and an unforgettable race.
Although Ranti and Barton ran spectacular races, there were other great performances at the meet.
David Smith continued his dominance of the shot put, winning and setting a meet record with a throw of 55-5.5. Marvin Chan was 4th with throw of 48-5.5, while Marcus Chang threw 39-6.25. Smith, Chan, and Chang teamed up again in the discus, with Smith throwing 140-6 for 4th, Chan throwing 130-3 for 6th, and Chang throwing 123 for 8th.
(Watch a video of Smith's winning throw on YouTube)
Gordon Forbes won the high hurdles in a personal best 15.38, and is beginning to look like a potential contender at the Class A meet. Avery Mitchell led for most of the 400 meters, but was nipped at the line by Nick Coluntuono. Mitchell still recorded a season's best 49.90.
(Watch Avery's race in the 400m on YouTube)
Gabe Feinberg ran 44.76 in the 300 hurdles, and Dan Hamilton ran 10:30.51 in the 2M.
In the girls 400, Emaa Kornetsky (60.76) was second, Lily Brown (61.91) was sixth, and freshman Ariana Tabatabaie (64.25) was 18th in a field of 24. In the girls high hurdles, Michelle Kaufman placed 7th in 16.74, and Morgan Faer placed 9th in 17.05. Sophomore Nevart Varadian ran the 300 hurdles, finishing 9th in 51.78. Latifah Smalls ran 14.09 in the 100.
In the girls mile, Nora Barnicle ran 5:39.42, with Elena Hemler at 5:59.86, and Kate Hutchinson at 6:01.62.
In the field events, Hester Breen recorded a PR 114-8 in the discus to finish second, while Morgan Faer threw 95-7 to take 6th. In the shot put, Tracy Isman (30-10.5) finished 4th, with Bonny Guang (28-0.75) 12th.
Sarah Berkland tied for 5th in the HJ, clearing 4-10, and placed 12th in the triple jump with a leap of 32-1.75. Michelle Kaufman (15-4), Sky Lewis (15-0.5), and Laryssa Manigat (14-10) placed 9th, 13th, and 15th in the long jump.
The girls competed in all three relays. The 4x100 team placed 9th in 53.50; the 4x400 team placed 7th in 4:31.74; and the 4x800 team ran an outdoor season's best 9:50.99 to place 2nd.
Weston Invite - Complete Boys Results
Weston Invite - Complete Girls Results
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