Unlike the boys meet against Brookline, the NNHS girls meet against the Warriors does not look like it will be close, based on performances from last year's teams.
The Tigers return just about all of their top athletes (with the exception of hurdler/sprinter/captain Leah Weisman) from last year's undefeated team. With potential winners in every event, it's hard to spot a weakness for other teams to exploit.
Newton should dominate the field events. The Tigers have three high jumpers from last year who cleared 4'10 or better, led by Alex Blenis (5'2"). Likewise in the shot put, Lily Brown, Tracy Isman, and Morgan Faer should sweep the top three places. Assuming everyone returns and is healthy, field events should go 18-0 to Newton.
In the 55 dash last year, Brookline's Tracy Taylor ran well, as did sophomore Asia Benton. However, if she competes in the 55, I'd favor Newton's Michelle Kaufmann for the win. I'll score this 5-4 Newton. In the 55 hurdles, Newton loses Div I State meet scorer Weisman, but returns Vicki Marone and Morgan Faer. Brookline's Anna Mak was about a second slower than Marone las year. I'll score this 8-1 Newton.
I'm just speculating now about how Newton will use it's sprint talent, but assuming that Lily Brown runs the 300 and Kat Chiong and Emma Kornetsky run the 600, I don't see anyone from Brookline in front of them. Brown ran sub 45 in the 300 last year, and although Benton and Steph Seldin ran around 47, I'll guess Newton finds someone fast enough to take third. 6-3 Newton. In the 600, Chiong and Kornetsky would be the favorites over anyone except Sabrina Parise, and assuming she runs the 1000, I'll predict Newton goes 1-2 for an 8-1 advantage. In the 1000, Parise will win against anyone but Jess Barton. Barton will win in whatever distance event she runs. So what will she run? Again, pure speculation, but I'll guess Parise sticks to the 1000 where she will have to contend with Nora Barnicle or perhaps Carolyn Ranti, and Barton runs the mile. Anyway, let's give Parise the win (not a sure thing against Barnicle) and Brookline 5 points in the 1000, with the Tigers taking 2nd and 3rd. Newton then goes no worse than 1-3 in the mile with Barton and Hemley-Bronstein, and then no worse than 1-2 in the 2-mile with Haleigh Smith and Ranti or Franca Godenzi. I score the distances 15-9 for Newton, and that's being generous to Brookline's improved distance crew.
So, if it all happens the way I've diagrammed it (it won't), the score would be 64-17 Newton going into the relay, which Newton should win if it runs anything close to its "A" team (Brown, Kornetsky, Kaufman?, Chiong).
Ok, so all of you with inside information, I'm looking forward to hearing where I've gone wrong tell me where I'm wrong. Who is healthy, who is injured, who is doing cross-country skiing? Inquiring minds want to know.
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9 comments:
I think, but i'm not sure, that Brooklinme picked up a 400 runner who ran 58.xx in 8th grade. Does anyone know about this or can confirm it?
Where did you hear that? Second place at the All-State meet last year was 58.47!!
Brookline's XC team was very much improved by freshman talent (Emily Groopman), maybe this meet will be closer than I thought!
I'll believe it when I see it. Remember there was rumor a while back that Brookline had a freshman (Groopman?) who ran a 5:10 mile in the 8th grade. Seems the rumor mill in Brookline is set to exaggerate a bit too much.
I know she went faster than this in 2004, but I'm pretty sure she is at BHS right now:
Girls 100 Meter Dash Midget
AAU-NE Dist: R 13.12 2004 Amodhi Weeresinghe, Cambridge Jets
Girls 200 Meter Dash Midget
AAU-NE Dist: R 27.89 2004 Amodhi Weeresinghe, Cambridge Jets
Girls 400 Meter Dash Midget
AAU-NE Dist: R 1:02.21 2004 Amodhi Weeresinghe, Cambridge Jets
The latest results -- from the 2006 Jr. Olympics national meet -- have her running 13.21 for 100m and 26.58 for 200m.
So she's fast!
Brookline girls should have a good 4x400 relay team this year.
Amodhi Weeresinghe is very legit, having seen her around for many years as a Jet. However, all those youth years tend to catch up with you, as does the impending clash between the Jets coach and the Brookline coach. Much of her success is that she was built like a 17 year old at age 12.
However, last year she ran the 200 at our indoor meet under the Jets (27.1 on a slow track), and was listed as being 16 years old. Something is a bit fishy.
One thing is for sure, this will not be a factor in the score of the dual meet. Don't ever doubt the powers of J.T.
Correction, she was born in 1992 - she's 14.
Nonetheless, if indeed Weeresinghe is running for Brookline, then JT knows about it because of his presence on the youth circuit - and has planned accordingly.
JT also has nothing to worry about, since he beat Brookline 77-7 last winter...
jon- amodhi is not doing indoor track. apparently her track club coach does not get along with the brookline coach. therefore she is doing bball. she run in the spring. i hear parise (brookline) is injured. theres also several injuries among the north girls team.
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