Published in the April 26, 2018 edition

BOXFORD — The girls’ outdoor track and field team opened up their season at Masconomet High School on Wednesday, April 11 with a double win against Newburyport (113-32) and Masconomet (93-32). The victories bode well for the season as the team is looking to continue its recent successes over the last few years in pursuit of another Cape Ann League Championship.

The Hornets had 10 individual automatic state qualifying performances from Alexandra Grasso, Megan Lawlor, Sophia Casciano, Isabella Parrett, Emily Davis, Grace Hadley and Lindsay MacLellan.

COMPETING in the 800 meter run at Masco on April 11 are seniors Olivia Esposito (left) and Grace Hadley. Hadley finished first at 2:28.2 while Esposito got third at 2:39.6. Both runners also helped the Hornets finish second in the 4×400 meter relay as North Reading beat both Masco and Newburyport. (John Friberg Photo)

Leading the team to victory was sophomore Alexandra Grasso, who scored 32 points across both meets as she won both the 100 meter hurdles (16.3 seconds) and 400 meter hurdles (68.0 seconds) and took second in the long jump (15’ 7.5”) and triple jump (34’ 3”). Megan Lawlor was not far behind with 30.5 points scored as she won both the long jump (16’ 7”) and triple jump (35’ 8”) and took second in the 200 meters (28.4 seconds) and ran the third leg of the winning 4×100 meter relay team (52.6 seconds).

The field events proved to be the key to success for the Hornets at the meet as they outscored Masco 46-17 and Newburyport 59-4.

Ryan Hunter (29’ 1.5”), Kelly Bratton (28’ 10”) and Victoria Grasso (26’ 9”) swept the shot put.

Mia DeNofrio (70’ 3”), Alyssa Crugnale (69’ 8”) and Kelly Bratton (65’ 1”) swept the discus. Victoria Grasso (88’6”), Abigail Martin (85’ 4”) and Alyssa Crugnale (85’ 3.5”) swept the javelin.

Scoring in the jumping events along with Ali Grasso and Megan Lawlor were Kaitlyn Gorgenyi (30’ 9”) in the triple jump and Kerry O’Brien (4’ 8”) and Lauren Gulbicki (4’ 6”) in the high jump. The pole-vaulters continued their league dominance with Sophia Casciano (10’ 0”) Isabella Parrett (9’0”) and Emily Davis (8’6”) sweeping the event.

Grasso was joined by Julia Thorstad (75.2 seconds) and Maggie McCarthy (76.3 seconds) in the 400 meter hurdles and Maggie McCarthy and Jerlin Kaithamattam who both finished the 100 meter hurdles in 18.4 seconds.

In the sprint events, Kaitlyn Gorgenyi (13.3 seconds) took 2nd in the 100 meters as Talia Monteleone (13.9 seconds) and Mia Denofrio (29.8 seconds) placed 3rd in the 100 meters and 200 meters respectively. In the 400 meters, Emily Davis was second overall (63.7 seconds), followed by Julia Thorstad (67.9 seconds) who placed 3rd.

The distance squad won all three events (800 meters, one mile, and two mile). Grace Hadley took the 800 meters in 2:28.2 followed by Olivia Esposito who took third in 2:39.6. Meredith Griffin won the one mile run in 5:35.2 and Lindsay MacLellan won the two mile run in 12:04.0.

In the 4×100 meter relay, Sophia Casciano, Talia Monteleone, Megan Lawlor and Kaitlyn Gorgenyi ran to an easy victory in 52.6 seconds. To wrap up the meet the 4×400 meter relay team of Meredith Griffin, Julia Thorstad, Olivia Esposito and Grace Hadley finished 2nd to Masco in 4:33.0.

The Hornets competed against Pentucket and Ipswich at home yesterday on April 25 after press time. Look for those results in next week’s paper. As Pentucket is the only team to have defeated the Hornets over the past four years, both teams expect a close meet.

On another note, this Sunday, April 29, the NRHS Track and Field team would like to invite the entire town to attend the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Division III Relay Championship that NRHS will host. The event starts at 9:30 a.m. and will run until 3:00 p.m. The Hornets will compete for the state championship title against approximately forty teams from throughout eastern Massachusetts.