LS NS matchup - DCL Meet 4

The meet was held at BU, so the runners could wear spikes. The BU track is fast, with a more steeply angled bank than Reggie. The uphill/downhill running in lanes takes a bit of getting used to in the 300m, and barrel starts in the 600m. Although it's quick, your legs always feel beat up after racing there. I've run a 800 and a 400 there. Starting in lane 6 in spikes in the 400 feels like you're balancing on the side of a mountain.

This was one of the tough dual pairings in the DCL, AB being the other. The boys won 50-45, even with a DQ'ed 4x4 (more on that later). The girls were simply outgunned by some of the LS stars, like Lauren Ready in the hurdles, dash and long jump, but we got some great PR's in, more qualifiers for States, and outstanding performances by freshmen and sophomores.

Click here for full results
Click here for photos by Dave Fineman
Click here for photos by John Keklak of LS

Maybe the biggest news was some of the individual performances by non-LS, non-NS runners.

Rebecca Robinson of Arlington ran 7.20 55m dash, and a 38.96 300m. If I simply multiply the 300m time by 4/3 that is a 52 second 400m. More realistically, it converts to maybe a 55, but you get the idea.

David Blaides of Concord Carlisle ran a 1:24.53 600m, and Curt Owen of AB ran a 2:34.93 1000m.

On the girls side - Madeline Frieze stepped up with two big PR's - one in the 55m (7.84) and winning her heat in the 300m (44.18). Lauren ready of LS took 1st in the heat, but frosh Lizzie Fineman ran a strong 7.94 for a 2-3 finish. NS ran 1-3 in the 300m with another Frieze -Fineman pairing.

NS also took 2-3 in the mile with sophomore Emily Caggiano and freshman Lucrecia Aguilar both in 5:38 running well together and qualifying for States.

The start of the 1000m was something of a surprise, as I was expecting Kathy O'Keefe to go rocketing out to the lead, but, instead she splitted in the 37-39 range for the first 4 200's. I finally caught on that she was helping pace frosh Anna Rhatigan and Hannah Friedman and helped them along to state qualifying times. Kathy took 1st and Anna took 3rd.

Kathy was our top shot-putter, getting points up for a 2nd place, and anchored the 4x4, making up a 20m deficit to take the win for NS.

On the boys side, David Melly doubled in the 1 mile and 2 mile, doing what he had to do. In the mile, he ran a conservative 4:35 to take 1st in the dual matchup against LS, and then paced himself in the deuce, finally rocketing a 33 sec final 200 for a 9:42.4

Senior Danny Connolly shows what perseverance over the years can do. I recall helping coach him in hurdles when he was a freshman. Some events like hurdles, the jumps and shot take a long time to get good at - a lot of dots have to be connected. He took first in the LS matchup in the hurdles in 8.43, qualifying for states.

Patrick Kaffour took first in the dash with a 6.76. I think this is his best for the season. Yousseff al-Korchi and Andrew O'Hagan ran 2-3 in the 300 *and* 1-2 in the high jump, *and* came back for the 4x4.

Brooks Remy and Cary Potochnik went 2-3 against LS in the 600. Connor O'Brien ran tough in the 1000m, tacking 2nd. Alex Karys and Brandon Caldwell took 2-3 in the shot. Jeff Alkins took 2nd in the long jump.

The points added up in our favor for the guys, and there was a huge amount of cheering for the boys 4x4 as it wasn't clear that the meet was already decided at that point. Youssef, Brook, Andrew and Marini ran a 3:33.11, but got DQ'ed. I don't know the precise violation, but I think in one of the handoffs, the incoming runner didn't get off the track in time, impeding the LS runner. That's what it *looked* like to me. In any case, they ran a spectacular relay, DQ notwithstanding, adding to the excitement of the meet.