Freshman Tysall is league champ in mile

Published February 8, 2019

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The Melrose High indoor track teams competed strongly at the 2019 Middlesex League Meet on Monday at Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. 

The Melrose girls team finished a strong 5th out of all ML teams. The league champs brought plenty of athletes to the podium, including freshman Charlotte Tysall, who became league champion in the 1 mile with an impressive time of 5:18.88. That time qualified the gifted runner for the New Balance Nationals in New York City in March. 

Her coach, Shannon Kane, was thrilled with her effort. “Charlotte is a great runner. Running is a part of her. But when it comes to racing, she holds back and doesn’t let herself go. But today, she felt all of her fears being the youngest one out there behind her and left everything she had on the track. It was beautiful.” 

FRESHMAN CHARLOTTE Tysall became the Middlesex League Champion in the one mile at the ML Championship. (courtesy photo)

She also credited her senior runners for a great effort. “This whole season we couldn’t have been so successful without the efforts of our seniors and captains Kate Bidgood, Kaleya Casterlow, Giovanna Machado and Nora Daly.”

Daly and Machado also had terrific days, both earning silver medals. Daly placed second in the 55 dash with a time of 7.69. Machado was 2nd in the 300 meter with a time of 43.04. Melrose’s 4×200 relay team earned the bronze with a third place finish thanks to the running of Grace Donahue, Nia Kovacev, Giovanna Machado and Nora Daly. 

Melrose cracked the top ten in several races. Grace Donahue finished 5th in the 55 hurdles. Katie Duffy placed 6th in the 2 mile. Kate Bidgood finished 7th in the 1000 and Alex Cotugno came in 7th in the mile. Chelsea Otaluka was also 7th in the shot put. Alyssa Champagne finished 10th in the 600 and Kaiya Thompson finished 8th in the 55 hurdles. 

Kane saluted the team’s efforts. “With a mainly young team, we need a great group of leaders and our senior leaders really stepped up and made this team the best it could be.” 

Boys team reaches podium, sees personal bests

The Melrose High boy’s indoor track team competed with the best on Monday at Reggie Lewis Center, and brought home a medal courtesy of Liam Rittenburg, who continues his outstanding season with a 5th place finish in the 600 with a time of 1:28.01. Also reaching the podium was Jon Fortier, who threw a 43-06 in the shot put, good enough for 6th.  

The team’s 4×200 relay team also cracked the top ten with Nate Monges, Jimmy Markan, Fabrice Francois and Liam Rittenburg finishing 7th. 

Fabrice Francois also jumped a personal best 17-11.5 in the long jump, good enough for 10th place overall. Jesse Gardener finished 8th in the high jump with a reach of 5-06. Charles Demayo placed 10th in the mile with a mile of 4:44.82. 

Athletes competing in the 55m included Nate Monges, Ryan Sikkema and Rowan Hopkins. Running the 300 was Alex Brincherio, Fabrice Francois, and Jesse Gardener. Melrose was represeted in the 600 by Ross Carroll and Brendan Ingalls, and in the 1000 by Matt Frawley and Ryan Cotugno. Distance runners included Colin Bakey, Will Dugan, Jerry Murphy and Brendan Ingalls. Melrose was represented in the shot put by Josh Ventura and Dan Urchuk.