Weymouth Girls Defend Carey Title 49-37

Newton North got monster performances, PRs, and wins from Margo Gillis (1000), Carolyn Ranti (600), Emily Hutchinson (HJ), and Michelle Kaufman (55H and 55 dash), but it wasn't enough against a Weymouth team that was very deep, very talented, and very determined to defend its Carey Division championship.

From the first event, Weymouth established the fact that the Tigers would have to battle for every point. In the mile, Jill Corcoran blasted through the first 400 meters in 74s, leaving Nora Barnicle at least 15 meters back with Weymouth freshman Bridget Jaklitsch stalking her. Corcoran ran solo for the win, and Jaklitsch waited until the last 400m and then moved decisively to settle the issue of second place.

Facing an 8-1 deficit, the Tigers turned to Margo Gillis in the 1000. Running the event for only the second time, Gillis set the track on fire, running the first 200m in a jaw-dropping 32s, the same split that Ezra Lichtman ran while leading the boys 1000! Weymouth's Carolyn Connolly could only hope that Gillis would blow up, but she held her form, if not the pace, hitting splits of 68, 1:45, and 2:23, before bringing it home in 3:01.15.

It would be hard for anyone to top that performance, but Carolyn Ranti equaled it, coming from behind to win the 600 in a personal best 1:39.75 (third fastest in the state this year). At first, it seemed that Ranti was hopelessly out of position, the victim of a quick starting gun and a bad start. Running in fourth place through the first lap, Ranti split a fast but reasonable 32s (2s behind Sam Bennett 30-flat!). Ranti kept her cool, passing teammate Sam Gluck at the 300m mark, and drawing even with Weymouth's Melissa Kimball at the bell. Throughout the final 200m, Ranti inched closer to Bennett, who was still running strong, although feeling the fast early pace. Into the home stretch, Bennett still led, but Ranti had a little bit more left and caught the Weymouth runner 15 meters from the line and won by a step and a half.

With Newton sophomore Emily Hutchinson on her way to a marvelous 5-4 in the high jump (and Amy Ren 2nd at 5-0), this was the high point of the meet for the Tigers. But the see-saw of the meet continued. Within a few minutes, Weymouth had a swept the 300, and taken 1-3 in the shot put for what would prove to be an insurmountable lead.

Michelle Kaufman would later win the 55 hurdles (8.65) and 55 dash (7.61) in the fastest times of the night, but with Jen Bell taking 2nd in each race for Weymouth, Kaufman's points would not be enough. Weymouth's Andrea Hicks won the 2-mile, and a third place in that event for Weymouth gave them 44 points and the meet.

The 4x400, while no longer decisive, was well-contested, with Weymouth winning in a season's best 4:08.93 to North's 4:16.29.

Congratulations to Weymouth for defending their title, and to both teams for a tremendous meet!

Event Results - Bay State Meet #5