TWICE AS nice. Senior Taylor Pesce became the Middlesex League Champion in both the triple jump and 100 hurdles last week. (photo by Raj Das www.edphotos.com)
Pesce & Sikkema are league champs
By JENNIFER GENTILE
BURLINGTON—The Melrose High girls’ indoor track team topped all ML Freedom competition at the 2022 Middlesex League outdoor track championship held at Burlington High on May 19 for an overall third place finish among the Middlesex 12 teams. Melrose took plenty of medals over the day and saw senior captain Taylor Pesce remarkably become league champion in both the triple jump and 100 hurdles while teammate Kate Sikkema also became a league champion in the javelin.
Pesce prevailed over her nearest competition in the triple jump with a 36-00 reach, two inches more than her Belmont rival, and in the 100 hurdles she outran her Woburn opponent with a time of 16.13 to clinch a gold medal. Sikkema prevailed over all ML competition in the javelin with a throw of 110-01 and also had a solid 7th place finish in the 800, earning points for Melrose.
Melrose coach Shannon Kane complimented her champs for their efforts. “Taylor is an amazing athlete and captain. She pushes herself to excel and succeed and in doing so, motivates her teammates. Yet she is so humble and doesn’t take any of it for granted. And Kate works so hard, has a great attitude and does the hard to work to improve. I’m so glad she’s gotten this recognition in the league.”
Overall, there was nothing but praise for this Melrose team, who will compete at Div. 3 States this weekend. Says Kane, “We’ve worked extremely hard this year on the final moments of our races and our mindset when we’re under pressure,” says the coach. “The girls did a great job showing their strength and resiliency.”
Melrose also saw an impressive silver medal awarded to Anna Mackey in the 800 and a great showing in the 1 mile where Charlotte Tysall and Cadence L’Heureux medaled in third and fourth respectively. Jillian Bakey also found the podium with a fourth place finish in the 2 mile and teammate Maizie Frakt was close behind in 8th. Melrose also saw an impressive high jump event, with senior Julie McAree earning bronze and teammate Scarlett Timm right behind her in fourth. Autumn Whelan medaled in the 400 dash with a 6th place finish.
Those who made it to finals in dash events included D’Mitra Mukasa in the 200 dash and Amy Rowe in the 400 dash. Jumping events were well represented by Meghan Radzik (triple jump) Hailey Keegan and Sophia Weissman (long jump). Field events included work from Anna Spinale and Abby Smith (discus) and Ruby Rosnov (javelin) and Megan Jancaitis and Molly Lytje (shot). Lytje also had a very solid showing in the 400 hurdles (8th). Sofia Weissman also had a great 7th place finish in the pole vault and Ellie Sweeney showed the future is bright with a 17th place finish in the 400 hurdles.
Melrose’s relay teams also brought it. Two teams brought home silver and bronze medals. Melrose’s 4×800 relay team placed second with a time of 10:13.30 thanks to the work of Charlotte Tysall, Jill Bakey, Maizie Frakt and Darby Thompson. Melrose’s 4×400 relay team earned bronze behind the work of Anna Mackey, Kate Sikkema, Cadence L’Hereux and Autumn Whelan. And their 4×100 team placed 7th behind the running of Amara Otaluka, DMitra Muska, Hailey Keegan, Sofia Weissman.
Says Kane, “This was a whole team effort beginning to end. They all came together and fought for what they wanted and we couldn’t do it without each and every one of them.”
This weekend comes the ultimate events of the season: the Division 3 State Finals at Westfield State, starting on Friday, May 26 at Westfield State. Melrose has a handful of athletes representing them there including:
Lily Nolan – 100 meter (*seeded first)
Hailey Keegan – 100, 200, and long jump
Kate Sikkema – 400, 800, Javelin
Autumn Whelan – 400
Amy Rowe – 400 and Triple Jump
Anna Mackey – 800 meter (*seeded first)
Darby Thompson – 800 meter
Juliet Moore – 800 meter
Charlotte Tysall – mile and two mile
Cadence L’Heureux – mile and pentathlon
Jill Bakey – 2 mile and 400 hurdles
Maizie Frakt – 2 mile
Taylor Pesce – 100 hurdles, high jump, triple jump* (*seeded first)
Julia McAree – 100 hurdles, high jump, pentathlon
Mollie Lytje – 400 hurdles, shot put
Scarlett Timm – high jump
Sophia Weissman – pole vault and long jump
Meghan Radzik – triple jump
4×800 relay
4×400 relay (*seeded first)
4×100 relay.
At press time, several Melrose athletes were ranked within the top three going into this weekend event. That means there is a good chance a Div. 3 state champion (or two!) may be crowned. Nonetheless, lost of medals are expected. Follow our social media pages for up to date information.
