Published May 31, 2019
NORTH ANDOVER—The Melrose High outdoor track teams were well represented when they took part in the 2019 MIAA Eastern MA Div. 3 State Final and Pentathlon Competition at Merrimack College over the weekend.
They it off on Saturday with an an appearance at the Div. 3 Pentathlon. Among those competeing for Melrose on the girls squad were Nora Daly, Nia Kovacez, Kate Bidgood, Alex Cotugno, Katie Duffy, Ella Flemming, Sydney Kroon, Jenna Fracasso, Hailey Keenan, Keelan Boisvert, Nicole Nzui, Giovanna Dos Santos Machado, Ciara Smith, Charlotte Tysall, Autumn Whalen, Julia McAree and Taylor Pesce.
Those representing Melrose on the boys side included Charles DeMayo, Jerry Murphy, Liam Rittenburg, Ryan Cotugno, Jack O’Hara and Jon Fortier.
Both teams enjoyed some top performances, including Charlotte Tysall who was 4th in the 1 mile, Katie Duffy who was 5th in the two mile, and Kate Bidgood who placed 6th in the 800 run. Alex Cotugno also cracked the top ten with an 8th place finish in the mile. Melrose’s 4×100 relay team also showed some fire, earning fourth place thanks to the legs of Nicole Nizui, Nia Kovacev, Brooke Barris and Nora Daly. Their 4×400 relay team also placed fourth behind the work of Ella Flemming, Nora Daly, Giovana Dos Santos Machado and Charlotte Tysall. Melrose’s 4×800 relay team of Autumn Whalen, Sydney Kroon, Kate Bidgood and Alex Cotugno placed 7th.
HURDLES WAS a strength for the MHS girls’ outdoor track team who competed in the Div. 3 States last weekend. (Donna Larsson photo)
The boy’s team was led by Liam Rittenburg who nearly swept the field in the 400 hurdles, placing second with a time of 57.83. Overall, he placed 8th among all competition with 2839 points. Melrose also showed strength in distance with Charles DeMayo running the 1 mile and Jerry Murphy the two mile. Melrose’s 4×400 relay team of Jerry Murphy, Charles DeMayo, Jack O’Hara, Liam Rittenburg and Ryan Cotugno competed and finished 16th. In the shot put, Jon Fortier cracked the top ten with a throw of 45-06.
On Sunday, Melrose’s qualified athletes competed in the Div. 3 Finals at Merrimack College. Among those representing Melrose were Brooke Barriss, Nora Daly, Giovanna dos Santos Machado, Charlotte Tysall, Alex Cotugno, Katie Duffy, Hailey Keegan, Nicole Nzui, Nia Kovacev, Ella Flemming, Julia McAree, Taylor Pesce, Autumn Whelan and Sydney Kroon.
Nora Daly advanced to the finals in the 200, placing 8th. Charlotte Tysall and Alex Cotugno were 6th and 9th respectively in the 1 mile. Katie Duffy finished a very strong fourth in the 2 mile. Giovanna dos Santos Machado punched her ticket to All States in the 400 meter hurdle with a time of 65.99. Melrose’s relay teams all cracked the top ten. The 4×400 relay team of Fleming, Dalay, Tysall and Machado were 5th. The 4×800 team of Whalen, Bidgood, Kroon and Cotugno were 9th and the 4×100 of Nzui, Keegan, Barriss and Kovacev were also ninth. Freshmen Julia McAree and Taylor Pesce impressed in the high jump with finishes of 11th and 14th place, respectively. Nicole Nzui competed in the long jump and Nia Kovacev in the triple jump.
On the boys side, Melrose saw performances from Charles DeMayo in the 1 mile, Jerry Murphy in the 2 mile, Jon Fortier in the shot put, the relay team of Jerry Murphy, Charles DeMayo, Jack O’Hara and Liam Rittenburg, who placed 10th in the 4×800.
Rittenburg was a standout on the day, placing first in the 1500 meter pentathlon run and an overall pentathlon finish of 7th. He also was 5th in the 400 hurdles.
