Track teams medal at Middlesex League Meet 

THE MELROSE High outdoor track teams will compete in the Div. 4 State Finals this weekend. (photo by Dan Murphy, murphymediagroup.org)

Published May 24, 2024

Dozens of runners will take part in this weekend’s States

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—It’s all coming to a head for the Melrose High boy’s and girls outdoor track teams, who took part in the 2024 Middlesex League Meet last week and will see their season come to a pinnacle this weekend when a slew of qualified runners take part in the 2024 Div. 4 Outdoor Track State Finals at Bridgewater State University.

Both teams collected medals against the Middlesex League’s best at the league meet that was held at Burlington High on May 15. Some of their top finishers on the boy’s side were Caleb Miller, who took bronze in the 2 mile and their 4×400 relay team of Jovan Ssebugwawo, Sam O’Donnell, Matt Sarnoski and Adam Caldwell who took silver. Giancarlo Martinis Torres also had a strong day by medaling in the 100 hurdles in 8^th.

Brendan Razdick medaled in the 200 dash with a 7^th place finish and Sam O’Donnell medaled in 4^th in the 400 while teammate Ssebugwawo placed 10^th. Adam Caldwell medaled in the 800 with a fifth place finish and teammate John Strong was 15^th. In distance events Ben Dugan was 24^th in the 1 mile and Henry McCormack 25^th. Jad Jamaleddine was 20^th in the 2 mile and Nolan Natale was 24^th in the 400 hurdles.

The 100 hurdles was a strong event for Melrose as Giancarlo Martinis Torres medaled in 7^th and teammate Charlie Finocchiaro was 11^th. Finocchiaro was also 7^th in the high jump. Melrose’s relay team of Matt Callahan, Tommy McElligot, Tyler Lecomte and Brendan Radzik finished 9^th. Melrose relay team of Jonah Tully, Ben Dugan, Caleb Barnes and John Strong finished 7^th. Brendan Radzick later competed in the long jump where he placed 10^th .

In field events, Giancarolo Martinis Torres was 12^th in triple jump, Jack McAree was 18^th in shot and Keegan Moloney was 21^st. Moloney also placed 13^th in the discus while Christian Correia was 22^nd. Emmanuel Guzman medaled in javelin with a 6^th place finish.  Melrose placed 7^th overall among the ML 12 teams.

On the girls’ side, Dimitra Mukasa started the day strong with a 9^th place finish in the 100 dash prelims, with Lara McLucas behind her in 17^th. Both athletes ran the 200 dash with McLucas placing 9^th and Mukasa 13^th.

Those who cracked the top three for medals included Reilly Powell who was 3rd in the 1 mile, Olivia Dellaporta who was second in the javelin and Cadence L’Heureux third in the 400 hurdles.  In the 400 dash Katie Leeman placed 12^th. Katherine Kennedy placed 23^rd 100 hurdles. In the 1 mile Maizie Frakt and Darby Thompson competed in the 1 mile and placed 16^th and 20^th respectively. Amy Row medaled in the 800 with a 5^th place finish. In the 2-mile Naomi Breay and Kenzington Ludlum finished 18^th and 24^th respectively.

Melrose’s 4×800 relay team of Maizie Frakt, Violeta Rechea, Darby Thompson, Reilly Powell placed 6^th and the 4×100 relay team of Adele Ackland, Abby Taylor, Audrey Steger-Wilson and Amara Otaluka placed 11^th. Melrose had a solid day in the triple jump with Cadence L’Reureux medaling in 5^th and teammate D’Mitra Mukasa placing 8^th. Sofia Papatsoris placed 8^th in the high jump and Emme Boyer 5^th in the shot put. Boyer also medaled in the discus with a 4^th place finish.

Melrose placed 5^th among all ML 12 teams, besting all Middlesex Freedom teams.

Qualified runners representing Melrose at States this weekend: 

Girls: 

Javelin: Aisling Donegan, Olivia Dellaporta; Discus: Emme Boyer, Shot Put: Emme Boyer; Triple Jump: Amy Rowe; Long Jump: Cadence L’Heureux; 2 mile: Rielly Powell, Naomi Breay, Darby Thompson; 1 mile: Darby Thompson, Reilly Powell; 400 hurdles: Cadence L’Heureux, Amy Rowe, Darby Thompson; 200 Dash: Lara McLucas; 400m: Katie Leeman, Cadence L’Heureux; 800” Cadence L’Heureux, Amy Rowe; 4×100 relay: Dimitra Mukasa, Abby Taylor, Amara Otaluka, Adeline Ackland; 4×800: Emma Drago, Naomi Breay, Reilly Powell, Maizie Frakt; 4×400: Katie Leeman, Emma Drago, Claire McDonald Amy Rowe.

Boys:

110 Hurdles: Giancarlo Martines Torres; 100 dash: Brendan Radzick; 2 mile: Caleb Barnes (seeded 2^nd) 400 hurdles: Jovan Ssebugwawo, Matt Sarnoski, Nolan Natale; 1 mile: Caleb Barnes; 400m: Sam O’Donnell, Adam Caldwell; 800m: Adam Caldwell, John Strong; Javelin: Emmanuel Guzman; Long Jump: Brendan Radzick; 4×100 Matt Callahan, Tyler Lecomte, Tommy McElligot, Brenda Radzick; 4×800: Jonah Tully, Ben Duggan, Jad Jamaddeline, John Strong; 4×400: Jovan Ssebugwawo, Jonah Tyler, Sam O’Donnell, Adam Caldwell (seeded first).