Published in the December 21, 2016 edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

LYNNFIELD — The Pioneers indoor boys’ track and field team had a strong showing at its recent season-opener.

The team defeated the Hamilton-Wenham Generals by a wide margin, 57-27, and came close to overtaking the Amesbury Indians, losing by a score of 46-39.

Meet highlights

Meet highlights on Dec. 10 included a combined 10 event victories for the Pioneers, including a sweep in the shot put against the Generals. Additionally, multiple team members qualified for the state meet.

Boys’ indoor track and field coach Christine Smith was impressed by the team’s trio of shot-putters – Nathan Drislane (36’6″), Nick Contardo (33’3″) and Ken Babine (32’11.25″) – who swept all three places against Hamilton-Wenham. Drislane also won the event against the Indians.

Lynnfield’s 4x400m relay team also beat H-W with a time of 4:04 and four athletes recorded double victories against both opponents in their individual events.

“Nathan Drislane took first place in shot put against both schools with a throw of 36 feet, 6 inches,” Smith said.

“Joe Donovan also took first over both schools in the 55m dash with a time of 7.00 seconds, which also qualified him for states,” she said. Drislane (7.68) took second place.

Not to be outdone, she added that Nick Kinnon “took first against both schools as well, in the 300m, with a time of 38.69 seconds.” Fraulini (43.48) earned second against H-W.

Another sprinter, Davide Pittilini, won the 55m hurdles for Lynnfield against both teams with “an impressive time of 7.97 seconds,” Smith said. He also qualified for states with this time.

Ryan Iapicca won the mile against Hamilton-Wenham and placed second versus Amesbury, recording a sub-five minute time of 4.59.17. Ramirez (5:12.40) took second for Lynnfield versus H-W. They finished second and third against Amesbury.

Kevin Pierce took first in the high jump against the Generals and second place against the Indians, clearing five feet even.

“Although the long jump was not counted for this meet, we swept both opponents and Pittilini jumped 19 feet 11 inches, which qualifies him for states,” Smith said.

Fraulini (17’5″) and Speicher (15’11”) completed the long jump sweep.

She added that the team also had other “respectable second and third places.”

Lynch (1:40.96) and Kramich (1:44.43) took second and third in the 600m against both teams.

Ricciardi (2:58.24) and Campbell (3:04.14) grabbed second and third in the 1000m versus both opponents.

Henriques (12:24.87) captured second against both teams in the two-mile race.