THE NORTH READING outdoor girls’ track and field team kicked off their 2024 season with a 104.5-40.5 victory over Essex Tech last week. (Courtesy Photo)

 

 

After press time: North Reading defeats Triton 107-38 (April 10)

 

NORTH READING — The NRHS girls’ track and field team opened up their outdoor season on April 1 at home against Essex Tech with a solid victory, 104.5-40.5. It was a great start for the Hornets, a team which is fresh off a state championship last spring and this past winter and has won 10 straight Cape Ann League Championships.

Leading the team to victory were a pair of juniors that scored 15 points in winning three individual events each, while also qualifying for the state championship in each of those events.

Giuliana Ligor was a triple winner in the 400 Meter Hurdles (1:03.80), 100 Meters (12.43), and 400 Meters (1:00.80) as was Hayden MacLellan in the 100 Meter Hurdles (15.66), Long Jump (16’ 9”) and Pole Vault (9’ 0”). Team Captains Georgia Robarts (9.25 points), Sabrina Mini (8 points) and Julia DeAngelis (7.25) were the next highest scorers.

The Hornets took a commanding lead at the start of the meet with a sweep of the 400 Meter Hurdles led by Ligor and followed by Callie MacLellan (1:09.80) and Quinlan Kelly (1:14.10). This was followed by a 1-2 finish in the One Mile by Ava Collins (6:10.00) and Adelyn Kelly (6:18.00).

This was followed by another sweep in the 100 Meter Hurdles led by Hayden MacLellan and followed by Callie MacLellan (18.10) and Giuliana Auciello (18.70). In the 100 Meter Dash, Madison Vant (13.72) took third behind a speedy Essex Tech sprinter and event winner Giuliana Ligor.

Quinlan Kelly took 1st in the 800 Meters (2:40.09) and Abigail Meier took 3rd (2:50.03). In the Two Mile, Riley MacDonald (14:18.25) and Kathryn Attwood (14:18.56) easily took 2nd and 3rd. In the 200 Meters, Julia DeAngelis (28.1) and Madison Vant (28.2) went 2-3.

At this point, the field events results were coming in and the Hornets continued adding to their score outscoring Essex Tech 34.5-1.5 in the jumping events. Callie MacLellan (5’ 0”) and Giuliana Auciello (4’ 8”) went 1-2 in the High Jump. The Long Jump saw a 1-2-3 sweep with Hayden MacLellan taking first followed by Georgia Robarts (16’ 7”) and Kate Denehy (15’ .75”). Robarts’ victory in the Triple Jump was followed by Kate Denehy’s 2nd place leap (32’ 6.5”). To wrap up the jumping events the Hornets had another sweep in the Pole Vault led by Hayden MacLellan, followed by Julia DeAngelis (6’ 6”) and Alana Hannon (6’ 0”).

The throwing events were more balanced with the Hornets having the slight edge 15-12. Abigail Lilley took a pair of second place finishes in the Shot Put (32’ 3.5”) and the Discus Throw (93’ 7”) behind Mini’s Discus Throw victory. Mini followed that up with a 2nd place in the Javelin Throw (84’ 5”) followed by Sophia Gallivan’s 3rd place toss of 82’ 4”.

The Hornets split the relays with Essex Tech taking the 4×400 Meter Relay and the Hornet team made up of Julia DeAngelis, Georgia Robarts, Julia Scammon and Madison Vant taking the 4×100 Meter Relay in 52.76.

This early season victory bodes well for the Hornets in their quest for season success. Coach Sotirios Pintzopoulos is pleased to announce that the team roster is at 54 which is nearly double what the indoor track and field roster was, especially because 20 of those athletes are in 9th grade which is a sign that the program is still running strong and looks to continue growing.

The Hornets second meet of the season took place on Wednesday, April 10 at Triton. Look for that story in next week’s Transcript.