Warriors qualify for Championship division at New Balance Nationals
Published in the March 8, 2017 edition
THE WMHS 4×800 relay team set a new school record time of 8:00.31 and placed fourth at the New England Championship meet. The four runners (from left to right) are Adam Roberto, Nick McGee, Matt Greatorex, and Ryan Sullivan.
BOSTON — The 2016-17 Wakefield Memorial High boys’ indoor track team had no shortage of incredible highlights this season. The Warriors won the Middlesex League Freedom division title, placed second at the Division 4 State Relays, and second at the Division 4 State Championship Meet.
There were school records in the 4×400 relay, one mile, and 4×800 relay as well as phenomenal performances by the 4×200 relay team and many individuals performing at the top level in the state.
Matt Greatorex, Ryan Sullivan, Nick McGee, and Adam Roberto have been a force all season in their individual events but most notably in the 4×800 meter relay as an elite unit.
On Saturday at the New England Championship Meet at the Reggie Lewis Center, the foursome was outstanding, finishing with a season best time of 8:00.31, breaking their own school record from the previous week and placing fourth in New England.
Taking 18 seconds off their time in the span of two weeks is an incredible accomplishment that is a very unlikely occurrence said Assistant Coach Perry Pappas, who coaches Wakefield’s distance runners during the indoor season for Head Coach Ruben Reinoso.
Relay teams need more than a fast four. All four members need to be focused on the same goal. These four have the utmost trust in each other which makes for a special recipe for success said Pappas.
It was the first time all season that they had people to chase. All four were ready to compete and they all ran personal best times.
Greatorex, a junior, remained in lead off duties handing off in second place, an arms-length behind Lowell star Chris Polanco, with a time of 1:58. Ryan Sullivan, a senior, ran his best leg in 2:01. Nick McGee, a senior, had people to chase for the first time this season and contributed with a 2:02 as he continues to make the most improvement for the team. Adam Roberto, a senior, once again anchored and ran a huge PR of 1:57.98.
Prior to New England’s they had won the Division 4 State Relay 4×800 relay (8:20.05), the State Coaches Invitational 4×800 relay (8:22.19), and the Division 4 State Championship 4×800 relay (8:18.57). At the All State Championship meet last week they made a significant improvement from earlier in the season running a school record 8:05.21 and placing fifth. That performance qualified them for New England’s and the Emerging Elite division at Nationals.
With this past Saturday’s performance they were promoted to the Championship division for the New Balance National Championship which will be held at the Armory in New York City this Saturday at 7 p.m.
Joining the relay team at Nationals will be Tanner Jellison who will be competing since he qualified for the freshman 400 meters which will be run at 4:45 p.m. on Saturday. Jellison is running the 400 due to his qualifying mark in the 600 meter run earlier this season since there is no 400 during the indoor track season at the varsity level.
