5-0 Melrose earns 4th title in 8 years
Published January 31, 2020
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—League domination isn’t getting old for Melrose High girls’ indoor track team. The undefeated 5-0 squad earned their 4th title in 8 years with a victory over Wilmington last week at the Reggie Lewis Center. This also represents Melrose’s second straight Middlesex League Freedom title.
And it happened in a clean sweep against an undefeated Wildcat squad. Now, Melrose appears to be a favorite going into the annual ML meet on Feb. 3. The Red Raiders used their depth of roster to completely dominated Wilmington in their distance, sprints and relay events.
“It was a great meet and everyone stepped up,” said head coach Shannon Kane. “I think this is the best team that I’ve coached and I’m so proud of each and every one of them.”
Melrose started things off with a 1-2 sweep in the 55 dash behind the effort of Nora Daly and Hailey Keegan. Both of their times of 7.68 and 7.77 put them a the top of the pack in the league. Melrose’s Alyssa Champagne, Ella Flemming and Jenna Thorpe swept the 300 meter dash. Champagne’s time of 44.21 also aligns her at the top of the league, which may bode well at the ML meet.
THE 2020 MHS League Champion indoor track team. (courtesy photo)
In the 600, Charlotte Tysall and Ava Palumbo swept the top two spots, besting their Wilmington competition. And in the 1000, Chloe Orcutt edged her rival out for the #1 spot with a time of 3:19.85. Melrose dominated distance running with Alex Cotugno and Anna Mackey placing 1-2 and in the two-mile, Cotugno and Jillian Bakey beat their Wildcat rivals. In the 55 hurdles, Melrose swept the field with Grace Donahue placing first and Kaiya Thompson and Megan Bidgood second and third.
Melrose’s relay teams also prevailed. Their 4×200 relay team was led by Nora Daly, Hailey Keegan, Grace Donahue and Keelan Boisvert. Their time of 1:51.0 was well ahead of Wilmington. Melrose’s 4×400 relay team also beat Wilmington thanks to the work of Alyssa Champagne, Ella Fleming, Charlotte Tysall and Jenna Thorpe.
“Every girl stepped up, especially in the hurdles, long jump, 300 and 2 mile,” says coach Kane. “A lot of the girls ran the best they have all season. You could tell by the way they were competing that they were confident and willing to take big risks which paid off with a big reward in the end.”
At 5-0, Melrose is now thinking both postseason and about the upcoming league meet scheduled for Feb. 3 at the Reggie Lewis Center.
Coach Kane anticipates good things. “I’m excited to see what the state meet has in store for us.”
