Published in the June 2, 2016 edition
THE NRHS BOYS TRACK TEAM celebrates their third place victory in the D–4 state championships. (John Friberg Photo)
NORWELL — The NRHS varsity boys track team completed its best season in team history at the Division IV EMass State Championship in Norwell on Saturday by taking third place in a very tough, competitive field.
CAL rival Amesbury and Norton High School edged out the Hornets as they scored 74.5 and 70 points respectively to the Hornets 57. This was the highest team finish for the Hornets in school history as the bested the 2013 undefeated team that took fourth at the same meet.
The Hornets had many performances to be thrilled about. In a new school record, the Division IV State Champion 4×100 relay team of Jackson Hastings, Matt McCarthy, Nick Copelas and Angelo DiSanto outleaned the field in a time of 44.25.
“An unbelievable race by those boys tonight,” said Hornets Coach Ryan Spinney. “They have worked so hard to achieve the record and to do it on this stage is incredible. They went undefeated as a relay team this whole season and not too many teams can brag about that!” The 4 x100 meter relay team will compete at Westfield this weekend at the All-State Final on Saturday night.
The other member of the Hornets who will be moving on to the All-State Final is shot putter Bob O’Donnell, who finished third in Division IV with a toss of 46’ 3.75”.
Fourth place finishers included Jenson Kaithamattam (Pole Vault 10’ 6”), Brendan Carter (1 Mile Run, 4:31.59, 3rd all-time in NRHS history!) and George Guinta (Pentathlon, 2368 points).
Following close behind were fifth place finishers including Nick Copelas (200m, 23.06), 4 x 400 Meter Relay team of Justin Bruzzese, Cam Davis, Tom Helms and Ben Hui (3:32.41), Aidan McDonald (Pole Vault, 10’ 6”) and David Smith (Javelin, 152’ 4”)
Sixth place finishers included Tom Helms (400m, 52.83) and Liam Rutherford (Pentathlon, 2294 points). Rounding out the scorers for the Hornets were 8th place finishers Ben Hui (400m, 53.12), Justin Bruzzese (400m Hurdles, 61.13), 4 x 800 Meter Relay team of Peter Audier, Noah Spicer, Jack Meaney and Brendan Carter (8:41.49), Kilian Daly (Long Jump, 20’ 1.75”)
This was an incredible season for the Hornets and the future is very bright! “This was the best season in NRHS Boys Spring Track history and I am looking forward to what we can accomplish in the future,” stated a very proud Coach Spinney.
