Warriors have best finish in nearly 50 years at Div. 4 Meet
COLE MOTTL (center) and Patrick Redmond (second from center) captured first and second in the shot at the Div. 4 Indoor Track and Field Championship Meet last night at the Reggie Lewis center. Mottl had a throw of 47-11 1/2 and Redmond had a distance of 47-0.
Published in the February 17, 2017 edition.
BOSTON — While the Wakefield Memorial High boys’ indoor track team came up just short of capturing the Div. 4 Indoor Track and Field championship, the Warriors still had one of the best showings ever in the history of the program last night at the Reggie Lewis Center.
Wakefield scored 61 points as a team and finished second to Northampton which tallied 67 points. The meet was touch and go the entire way and the team title wasn’t determined until the final relay was run.
The Warriors were in contention for the team title based some many terrific performances, including the crowning of two champions, three second place performances, a third place performance, a fourth place, and two eighth place showings.
“Last night at the Reggie Lewis Center a lot of lucky fans got to see one the greatest battles of any sport,” said Head Coach Ruben Reinoso. “The Warriors came to compete last night against a very good Northampton team.”
Northampton scored first in the 55 meter dash with a second place finish giving them eight points. The Warriors came back with a second and fourth place in the mile, making the score 13-8 Warriors. Matt Greatorex, a junior, and Nick McGee, a junior, earned a second and a fourth as they clocked in at 4:28.47 and 4:33.01. Melrose’s Kevin Wheelock won the event in a time of 4:25.17.
In the 600 meter run, Northampton was second and captain Ryan Sullivan was eighth with a 1:26.27, making the score 16-14 Northampton.
In the shot put, behind the efforts of senior captain Cole Mottl and junior Pat Redmond, the Warriors answered big time as they went one-two making the score 32-16 Warriors. Mottl claimed first place with a winning distance of 47-11 1/2. Redmond had a very good throw of his own, 47-0.
“This is the first time that we have had a state champion in the shot put in a long time and the first time that we have ever placed one-two as well,” said Reinoso.
In the 1000 meter run senior captain Adam Roberto gave Wakefield, as he always does, a very exciting race. He patiently waited for his moment to strike, and with 150 meters to go the Northampton athlete, sophomore Benjamin Gordon-Sniffen, opened up the race and Adam went for it placing second. He ran a time of 2:35.85 and the Gordon-Sniffern ran a 2:35.38.
This was a PR for Roberto and it is the fastest time since current record holder Steve Robertson. At that point the score was 40-26 in favor of the Warriors.
In the 300 meter dash, Northampton took first and fourth making the score 41-40 Northampton.
Marc Biennestin, a junior, came up big with an eighth place and with a jump of 19-11 in the long jump making the score tied going into the relays.
In the 4×200 Northampton was second and the Warriors were third with a time of 1:34.53 and a PR. The four runners were senior captain Dan Sallade, senior Dan Summers, senior TJ Sellers, and sophomore Brian Smith. That made the score 49-47 Northampton.
In the 4×800 relay, the Warriors ran from the lead the whole way and ran their fastest time of the season at 8:18.67. The four runners were Greatorex, Sullivan, McGee, and Roberto. The score was now 57-57 going into the 4×400 relay.
“Coming into the meet we knew Northampton had the number one (4×400) relay going into the meet but our kids did not shy away from the competition and they ran their best,” said Reinoso.
The Warriors came up with a fifth place finish in the 4×400 relay and Northampton came away with the win making the final score 67-61. The four Warrior runners were Smith, junior Jared Hurley, Sellers, and Summers. They clocked in at 3:35.00.
“Going into the meet the coaching staff talked about scoring over 60 points to win so our hats go off to Northampton. But we are very proud of our athletes being runner up,” said Reinoso. “This program has come such a long way and to be competing for state title is just a great example of how much work our athletes and coaches have put in. I want to thank our school community for being a great support to athletics, especially (K-12 Director of Athletics, Health, and Wellness for the Wakefield Public Schools) Brendan Kent. He does so much for all sports and has giving our kids a lot of publicity.
“My coaching staff, they are truly the best in the state (Coach Perry Pappas, Coach Justin Berry, Coach Anthony LaFratta and Coach Elias Reinoso). They dedicate more time than I ask for and I know the athletes really appreciate their time and effort,” continued Ruben Reinoso. “Our parents are the best in the state as well, they support us every meet. It was really nice to see such a great showing of parents not just last night but at all of our meets.
“And finally the athletes, I am so proud to be your coach. Your dedication, focus, and determination are three great attributes that are going to get you far in life,” added Reinoso. “You guys have made this program into one of the best in the state. It was really exciting to be there last night, especially since (Girls’ Indoor Track) Coach (Jim) Duff mentioned that this has been one of the finishes we have had in a long time.”
Also competing in the 55 meter dash was Sallade. Sallade finished in 10th place with a time of 6.81 seconds.
Tanner Jellison, a freshman, also ran the 600 and finished in 18th place with a time of 1:31.23.
Wakefield had three runners in the two mile. Sophomore Carter Margolis, a junior Tom Lucey, and senior Jack Stevens placed 15th, 17th, and 22nd with times of 10:30.64, 10:43.88, and 11:04.20.
Biennestin also competed in the high jump and finished in 13th place as he cleared 5-9.
In the shot put, Alex Joly, a junior, finished in 17th place with a throw of 39-7.
The Warriors will be well represented at the All-State Meet which will be held on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Center.
