Will Weymouth be Newton's Waterloo?

Newton North, the most consistently successful track program in the Bay State league over the past decade, heads to Weymouth on Tuesday facing the most serious challenge to its supremacy this millennium.

The Weymouth girls were clearly and definitively the best dual meet team in the league indoors this winter, and repeated as Carey champions. But they haven't quite been able to match up with North outdoors, although the meets have been close. Weymouth has an excellent chance to break that jinx tomorrow, with a team that has few weaknesses and many strengths, including the short and long sprints. In the last two years, they have not quite been able to match North's depth in the field events, but this year could be different. Indeed, what stands out about both Weymouth teams is their depth and coverage across events.

Some of the usual questions revolve around where each team will use its stars. Where, for example, will Newton North run Carolyn Ranti (800?) and Margo Gillis (mile? 400? 800?). There will be some great races on the track, but I have a feeling that the two teams will come out close to even in the individual events, and split the relays (Am I crazy to think North can take the 4x100?)

And that same feeling tells me that the meet will be won or lost in the field events, and I just don't know enough to know where the strength of each team lies. Weymouth has home "field" advantage, so maybe that will be enough to tip the scales. Anyway, it will be a great meet and could very well be close up to the end.

Meanwhile, the Newton North boys will have to come up with something pretty special to beat a Weymouth team that currently claims the best league performances in the 200, 400, 1M, 2M, 400 hurdles, and 4x400 relay.

Weymouth's top performers include Steve Sallowin, only a sophomore but perhaps the best distance runner in the league (top times in the 1M and 2M); David Bean, who holds the league's best time in the 100, and the second best time in the 100; Sean Galligan (52.54 in the 400); and perhaps the most valuable guy on the team, Malcolm Gurney (15.84 in the 100H, 58.54 in the 400H, 148' in the javelin, and 40-9 in the triple jump). Then there's Shawn Finn (league top ten in all three throwing events, with a 140' javelin throw to his credit) and solid middle-distance guys like Chris Dooley (2:06 800) and Rob Keegan (10:27 2-mile). I'm sure I'm forgetting someone.

If Newton is going to win and keep it's ten-year dual meet streak alive, it will need to fight to a draw, or something close, in the sprints and hurdles, which won't be easy. Isaiah Penn, Troy Peterson, Tony Chen, Ethan Goldman will need to have big days, and the Tigers hope Ben Kiley and Sam Arsenault are ready to go. Weymouth has the edge in the 400, 800, and mile (assuming Sallowin runs the mile). Ezra Lichtmann gets a tough assignment trying to keep Weymouth from going 1-2 in the 800. Jarad Forman and Dan Ranti are hoping to get points in the mile. The 2-mile looks good for North, with Dan Hamilton and Mike Goldenberg coming on strong (10:07 last week).

With a good showing, Newton makes up some points in the shot put and long jump. Weymouth looks to have the edge in the javelin (but Neil Fulwiler has thrown 144' and could win here), and North with Conor Ebbs has the edge in the discus. If Arsenault or Kiley is available, that helps a lot in the high jump. Without them, will North find someone else to score some points there?

The 4x100 is too close to call -- Newton needs to win here, because I think Weymouth is too strong in the 4x400.

Bottom line, I think Weymouth is slightly stronger on the track; North is slightly stronger in the field (maybe with Arsenault and Kiley a little bit more than a little stronger). It's going to be a great day and a great meet.