(Wed 2/4) - Tigers Sweep Inter-Divisional Meets

(Trying to catch up after a very busy week away from the blog...)

Boys Wrap Up 11th Straight Undefeated Season With 50-36 Win Against Wellesley

The Newton North boys indoor track team was without hurdler/jumper/sprinter Sam Arsenault on Wednesday as they faced undefeated Herget Division champ Wellesley in the final dual meet of the 2008-2009 season. It has been a season of challenges for the Tigers, who won close meets against Brookline and Weymouth to keep their dual meet win streak alive. And for the second meet in a row, the black and orange fell behind 1-8 in the first event.

But after that initial setback, the Tigers won every other running event, including a sweep in the 2-mile, clinching the meet in advance of the 4x400 relay, which they also won for a final margin of 50-36.

As he has been the last few weeks, Ben Kiley was a star for the Tigers, winning the 300 (37.63) and 55 dash (PR 6.81, and fastest overall time of the night), while taking third in the high jump (5-11).

Other wins came from Ezra Lichtmann (2:51.15) in the 1000 (with Justin Keefe 2nd), Niel Fulwiler (1:28.77) in the 600, Tony Chen (8.08) in the 55 hurdles, and Dan Hamilton (10:13.53) in the 2-mile. Isaiah Penn took 3rd in the 300 (38.37) and led off for the winning 4x400 team (which included Hao-Kai Wu, Ryan Kwan and Fulwiler).

Ryan Donovan (41-11) and Swardic Mayanja (40-5) took 2nd and 3rd in the shot put.

With the victory, the Tigers gave Coach Jim Blackburn his 11th straight undefeated indoor season, going back to 1998. According to historian Josh Seeherman, their lost loss came against Milton, when North's 4x400 relay team was disqualified after Aaron Schwiriam fouled Kobe Fuller in the final few meters of the race. It has been quite a run since then.

Bay State League Inter-Divisional Meet - Complete Results

Impressive Performances Highlight Girls 51-35 Victory Over Natick

Michelle Kaufman had her usual superb evening for the Tigers, winning the 55 hurdles (8.90), 55 dash (7.69), and long jump (17-00.5) -- all of which were best performances of the night -- and taking 3rd in the shot put with a heave of 25-4. Kaufman has been so consistently good this season that her points seem almost automatic. As the indoor season reaches its final weeks, it's worth reflecting on her four years of accomplishments, and wish her well in the big meets to come.

The performance of the night for the Tigers was undoubtedly Margo Gillis 2:59.50 victory in the 1000. (Amusingly, the Daily News Tribune reported the time as 2:29.50 -- which is, for now, a little bit out of Margo's range.) Her actual time is the third best in the state this year and, after Gillis finished 2nd in the MSTCA coaches meet in the 2-mile, raises an intriguing question of where she will compete in the Div I meet. (The 2-mile is only about 40 minutes before the 4x800 relay.)

Other victories came from Carolyn Ranti in the mile (5:17.83), Emma Kornetsky in the 600 (1:43.86, with Jaya Tripathi running an excellent time of 1:46.42 to take 2nd), and Nora Barnicle in the 2-mile (12:31 for the senior who rarely runs the longer distance on the track).

The North 4x400 team also won, running a season's best 4:15.62 -- seven seconds ahead of the Raiders.

Bay State League Inter-Divisional Meet - Complete Results