Published June 18, 2021
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High girls’ track team grabbed bronze at the ML 12 League Championship at Burlington High on June 10. The team earned 77 points, which represented the best showing of any Middlesex Freedom team, and came in third overall behind winner Lexington, followed by Arlington.
Melrose crowned a league champ: Anna Mackey in the 800 meter. Her time of 2:21 bested her closest opponents from Lexington and Burlington. Others medaling included Taylor Pesce in the triple jump (2nd) Julia McAree in the high jump (third), Grace Donohue in the 400 hurdles, and the team’s two relay teams of the 4×400 and 4×800.
Fresh off this excellent showing, Melrose has now qualified a massive 15 girls for State competition that will happen this weekend at the Div. 2 State finals at Weston High.
During the Middlesex League Championship last week, Melrose showed tremendous depth and cracked the top ten several times over the afternoon. Melrose started off in the 100 meter represented by freshmen Lily Nolan. Melrose’s Hailey Keegan was 5th in the 200 meter, and in the 400 Melrose saw a 12th place finish by Autumn Whelan. As Melrose’s Mackey won gold in the 800, teammates Ella Flemming and Sydney Kroon supported her in the 5th and 6th positions, respectively. Melrose showed strength in distance with Charlotte Tysall placing 4th in the 1 mile, followed by teammate Lillian Lawlor in 6th. In the two mile, Jillian Bakey placed 8th.
Melrose had incredibly successful hurdles performances. Grace Donohue medaled with third place in the 400 meters while Kaiya Thompson placed fourth in the 100m hurdles. Mollie Lytje was 8th in the event. Those who stood out in field events include Kate Sikkema and Autumn Whelan the javelin, Hailey Keegan and Kaiya Thompson in the long jump, bronze medalist Julie McAree in the high jump and league silver medalist Taylor Pesce in the triple jump. Teammate Megan Radzik placed 7th in the event.
Their entire season will now culminate with their appearance at the Div. 2 State Finals, held this weekend at Weston High, starting on Friday and ending on Sunday. Melrose will be very well represented there. Competing for Melrose will be Hailey Keegan (200) Meghan Radzik (200) Autumn Whelan (400) Anna Mackey (seeded second in the 800), Ella Flemming and Sydney Kroon (both in the 800) Charlotte Tysall (1 mile) Jillian Bakey (2 mile) Marissa Zelten (2 mile) Molly Lytje (2 mile) Grace Donohue (400 hurdle) Kaiya Thompson (100 hurdle, long jump) Taylor Pesce (100 hurdle, triple jump) Julia McAree (high jump) and Katie Sikema (javelin).
