Published May 13, 2021
NORTH READING — It has been nearly two years since the NRHS girls’ outdoor track and field team has stepped foot on the track for team competition.
Looking back, May 26, 2019 was the last time the team competed as a group to win its fourth straight State Championship. The Hornets were D4 champions in 2016 and 2017 and were then moved up to D3 where they won two more back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019.
During those four years, the team went 39-2 having also won four Relay State Championships, four Cape Ann League Championships, and three Cape Ann League Open Championships.
The year 2020 was shaping up to be what could have been five in row for the Hornets as the team was led by three returning divisional state champions (Ali Grasso – Triple Jump and Pentathlon) Lindsay MacLellan (Two Mile) and Isabella Parrett (Pole Vault), none of whom got to compete in their senior year due to COVID.
Fast forward to May 2021 and the current team is led by four senior captains (Katelyn Gorgenyi, Julia Thorstad, Kerri Ann Sexton and Ashley Rabbitt) who all had a taste of success their freshmen and sophomore years as part of those championship teams. They have already set their goals to keeping the streak alive and winning another Cape Ann League Championship and possibly a State Relay Championship and State Championship, if the state lifts restrictions allowing athletes to compete against multiple teams and not just head-to-head within the league. Joining them will be fellow senior Kristina Valenti, who decided to join the team for her final season at NRHS.
The team opened up this year’s season on Thursday, May 6 with a dominating win over Hamilton-Wenham, 137-3, to start the season off 1-0.
Leading the team to victory were the following five-point scorers who combined for over 60 of the team points at the meet: Katelyn Gorgenyi, scored 20 points with victories in the Long Jump (18’ .05”), Triple Jump (35’ 9”), 100 Meter Hurdles (14.7 seconds) and 200 Meters (26.0 seconds).
Ella Montelone, scored 12.25 points with victories in the High Jump (4’ 10”), 4 x 100 Meter Relay (53.7) and 2nd place finishes in the 100 Meter Hurdles (17.83) and Triple Jump (30’ 4”).
Madison Vant scored 11.25 points in her first outdoor track and field meet, winning the 400 Meters (1:04.8 seconds), Javelin Throw (88’ 0”) and the 4 x 400 Meter Relay (4:33.4).
Annie MacLellan was a double winner in the 1-Mile and 2-Mile (5:48.5 and 14:34.6) as was Emma Mini in the Shot Put and Discus Throw (30’ 7” and 55’ 11”) as they both scored 10 points for the team.
Upcoming meets
The Hornets also competed on Tuesday, May 11 against Ipswich and will compete against Amesbury on Wednesday, May 19. Let’s see if the Green and Gold can go 3-0 to start the season.
