Newton North vs. Walpole was as close as predicted, a rollicking back and forth scrum for every available point. With only the relay remaining, Walpole clung to a two-point advantage. Alas, having to win the 4x400 against Newton is always a tall order, and this night was no different. The Tigers did what they do -- they put four fast runners on the track, they passed the baton, and in the end, it was enough to prevail 49-46 over the Rebels and keep their increasingly preposterous dual-meet unbeaten streak alive for another year.
Walpole had several chances to deck their opponent early. In the first race of the night, Newton sophomore Mike Schlichting held off Walpole sophomore Anthony DiVirgilio for second place in the mile by two-tenths of a second. No one knew it at the time, but that four point swing was huge. With NN's Justin Keefe and Zach Ganshirt trading wins in the mile and 1000, Daniel Swain won a crucial race against Bryan Rockwood in the 600 by a mere 0.07.
Walpole came right back with PJ Hayes winning a photo finish against Ryan Lucken in the 300. Both runners were given the same time -- 36.27 -- but Hayes was better by a few thousandths of a second.
Meanwhile, Walpole's Connor McCarthy PR'ed in the high jump at 5-7, putting the pressure on the North jumpers. Had McCarthy been able to get a clean clearance at 5-9, Walpole would have been in the driver's seat, but after three misses, he had to settle for third behind Hansen Yang and Nick Fofana.
However, McCarthy did his damage in other events, winning the 55 hurdles and long jump. Hayes won the 55 dash, and placed second in the long jump. Between the two of them, they accounted for 25 of Walpole's 46 points.
North swept the shot put, as expected, but Walpole countered with a 1-2 finish in the 2-Mile, setting up the fateful relay.
Results of Walpole vs. Newton North Boys Meet
The girls also had a meet last night -- against Herget Champs, Natick -- and it was also expected to be close. However, the Tigers showed no drop-off from their recent high level of performance and pulled away for a comfortable 66-29 win.
In the early events, Evie Heffernan won the mile, Miller McCarthy-Tuohy won a close race against Annie McElaney, and Meghan Bellerose ran a PR 1:38.56 to win the 600. In the 300 -- one of the critical events of the night for Natick -- Carla Forbes and Madi Nadeau went 1-2 against one of Natick's best athletes, Laurie Femmel, and there was little doubt about the eventual outcome after that.
Results of Natick vs. Newton North Girls Meet
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11 comments:
It is truly amazing that NN has had this dual meet win streak for 15 year- a true testamnet to Coach Blackburn and the coaching staffs over the years including current coaches Bower and Wallace.
Congrats! The rest of us will conti9nue to try and raise our level to compete with the best.
Thanks Mike for mentioning the coaching staffs I have been lucky to have including the great Jon Waldron for several years.
I was very fortunate to be an assistant for Jim at Newton North, and I learned a ton from him, as well as from other coaches in the BSL.
One thing I learned from Coach Blackburn was never to take success for granted, or get too comfortable with past achievements. He has always appreciated the abilities and heart of his opponents. His teams have always come prepared to compete, with a mindset that you had to earn success every day.
If you do that day after day, well, you might end up with a nice streak. But I'm pretty sure that when people talk to him about a streak, Coach Blackburn replies like Bill Belichick -- "I don't worry about that stuff. I'm just trying to get ready for Walpole this week!"
Jon, I don't know if you realized, but NN girls set FOUR Bay State League records in this dual meet- arguably the greatest dual meet effort in league history. Carla matched the 55 record (7.38 with Needham's Violet King), set the FAT 300 record (40.97 was Norwood's Jen hall 40.8h) and the long jump (18'8.25" was her own 18'6") and Wong set the 55HH record (8.42 was 8.46 her own).
I'm saying it, because I've been around a while now, this is the BEST NN team JT has coached in the last 15 years at leasy. I would say ever, but I can't speak to his old school teams.
Seeherman, can you confirm, or are you more of a guys historian?
When was Newton North's last indoor dual meet loss?
Thanks for the compliments Jon. Does the fact that I'm already worried about outdoor, especially our vacation meet with Walpole make your point? ...Dan I think our last loss was to Milton in 1997, when A. Schararian was disqualified for contact with Fuller both in the 600 and the relay. Ironic since he was a great runner--maybe our best ever in natural talent, although Barnicle was more accomplished through his amazing work ethic and motivation.
Coach --
That's incredible -- I of course remember that meet well, and it's great to know that the streak started back when I was a captain. Perhaps the best indication of exactly how long ago that was is the fact that the 1997 indoor track conference championship banner that used to hang from the rafters in the old NNHS gym is now hanging over my son's crib.
I hope to make it over to the Reggie for a bit for either the D1 or all-state meet. Until then!
I remember coming home for college winter break and watching Schwirian's relay foul like it was yesterday . . . .
The 2011 outdoor women's team was phenomenal, scoring 93.5 points at Div 1 excluding a 4x100 DQ and no Stephanie Brown in the pole vault. The 93.5 points is a school record (the men's record is 96 from 1958). However, looking at indoors, one looks to 2005 for comparison. The team scored 85 at Div. 1, and 44 at the All-State. That team at Div. 1 scored 7 among the 600, Mile, and 2 Mile, as well as winning two relays. They were much deeper on the oval than this year's team, but did have two good hurdlers in Azuree Catledge and Leah Weisman as well.
Going way back, those teams simply were not as good at the state level. The exception is Tanya Jones who ran a nausea-inducing 35.98 for 300 yards to win the 1992 state title (the conversion is around 39.3 - Carla Forbes isn't there yet). The 1992 indoor team was pretty good, winning Class A with 61 points without Jones' 10 in the LJ as there was no LJ then (although Jones did win the HJ). 2005 > 1992 though, with possibly 2012 on its way to being > 2005. We shall see.
The Newton North boys record for Div 1 points is from waaaay back in 1946, scoring 76. Woody Crowther, who I believe later became a school administrator at Weeks Junior High in Newton, won the 600 yards in 1:18.9.
Josh is amazing. Mr. Newton North knows everything about track at NN. ..Tarnya was a great one; she recently went into the NN Hall of Fame. I remember her 300 at Harvard. She , Liz Natale, and Carla are NN's best ever.
True, they scored 85 points in 2005, but that was a different time in Mass. track. Look at where they got their points...
4x400- 4:04 (1st- 10)- this team is MUCH better, having 3 legs well under 60.
4x800- 9:50 (1st-10)- are you kidding me. They have a team faster than this that won't even necessarily place (it will), let alone win it.
LJ- Catledge 17'5" (3rd- 6)- Forbes is alot better, with Wong not too far behind.
HJ- Blenis 5'0" (3rd- 6)- likely would not place in 2011, and would be NN's #2 or 3 jumper
2M- Smith 11:40 (2nd), Glerum 11:55 (5th), Moy 11:59 (6th) 11 points- sufficed to say, this event has gotten WAY better, but Heffernan/ Traynor could be damn near that 5-6 grouping
1M- Barton 5:11 (1st), Schindler 5:13 (2nd- 18) another event that has strengthened, but I'd give Heffernan junior a run for the top 2 spots here.
600- Fulton 1:35.90 (1st), Wiesman 1:37.81 (3rd- 16)- Bellerose even with Wiesman
55HH- Catledge 8.70 (2nd- 8)
Total 2005- 85
I would argue, and my opponents might say I'm just trying to feel better about myself, that the 2012 installment of JT's angels would score the following points if they were running against 2005's field:
55- Forbes wins (7.20- 10)
55HH- Wong wins (8.48- 10)
300- Nadeau 2nd (41.71- 8)
600- Bellerose 3rd (1:37.81- 6)
1mile- Heffernan 3rd (5:17.09- 6)
2mile- Heffernan 4th (11:51- 4)
SP- Salvucci 4th (33'5"- 4)
HJ- Grigoli 2nd (5'2"), Larkin 4th (5'- 12)
LJ- Forbes 1st, Wong 4th (16'11"- 14)
4x2- 2nd (1:47- 8)
4x8- 1st (9:50- 10)
4x4- 1st (4:04- 10)
I have this team scoring 104 points against that level of competition, and having other kids who could step up and make it higher. Remarkable. Let's face it, girls track in this state has blossomed, and NN has risen to the challenge year in and year out!
Coach Miller,
I agree with you completely in your analysis. In a dual meet, it would probably be surprisingly close but 2012 would probably defeat 2005. However, as famous coach James Tuppeny used to say every year at conference "that's why they have these meets, to see who is the best when it matters, otherwise we could just mail in the results based on prior performances."
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