Two wins and Pentathlon success highlight busy girls’ track week

MEMBERS of the NRHS girls’ track and field competed well in the statewide Pentathlon on Saturday at North Andover High. Pictured from left to right: Madison Vant, Giuliana Ligor, Annie MacLellan, Tiara Lamont and Hayden MacLellan. (NRHS Track Photo)

NORTH READING — It was a busy week for the NRHS girls’ track and field team. The Hornets won two meets against Triton and Pentucket to move to 5-0 and had multiple student athletes compete at the statewide Pentathlon.

Remain undefeated with win over Triton

North Reading moved to 4-0 with a commanding win over Triton on Wednesday, April 20 over April Vacation with a score of 90-54. Leading the team to victory was new school record holder Giuliana Ligor who scored 13 points for her team in three events. Despite this being Giuliana’s freshman year she has already begun to stand out as one of the area’s best track and field athletes having medaled in the 400 meters at the New Balance Indoor Track and Field Championship this past month in New York.

In the meet against Triton she won the 400 Meter Hurdles in a school record setting time of 1:05.8 breaking the previous mark of 1:06.6 set by Ali Grasso in 2019. Grasso is currently a junior on the track and field team at UMass Lowell. Ligor also easily won the 400 meters with a time of 1:05.4 and followed that up with a second place finish in the triple jump (31’4”).

Ava McIntyre won two events (100 Meters = 12.5) and the Long Jump (16’ 6”) both with state qualifying marks and also ran the second leg of the winning 4×100 meter relay (52.0) for a total of 11.25 points.

Emma Mini and Kayla Hannan scored 8 points each winning an event and coming in second in another. Emma won the Shot Put (31’3”) and took 2nd in the Discus Throw (85’10”) while Kayla won the Pole Vault (7’6”) and took 2nd in the 100 Meter Hurdles (17.5).

Madison Vant was the fifth highest scorer on the team with 7.25 points, winning the Javelin Throw (96’7”), taking 3rd in the Long Jump (15’10”) and anchoring the 4×100 meter relay.

Abigail Lilley won the Discus Throw (101’8”) and Ella Monteleone won the High Jump (4’8”).

Hayden MacLellan was second in the Pole Vault (7’6”) with a state qualifying mark. Madison DiNapoli was second in the 200 meters with a state qualifying mark of 26.9 seconds. Georgia Robarts also had a state qualifying mark in the long jump finishing second with a leap of 16’4”.

The Hornets won 10 out of 17 events and swept five events (Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Put, Discus Throw, and the Javelin Throw) yet again proving the strength of their field events.

 

Impress at Pentathlon

Five Hornets competed in the statewide Pentathlon event on Saturday at North Andover High School against 22 athletes from around the state.

At the event, every athlete competes in five separate events across a four-hour time period (100 Meter Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put, and the 800 Meter Run).

All five athletes represented their town well and scored personal best performances across all five events. The team even had three athletes medal in the top six as the top six athletes earned medals for their achievements.

Giuliana Ligor took 2nd, Madison Vant took 4th and Annie MacLellan took 5th.

Beat ‘21 state champion Pentucket 87-58

The NRHS girls’ track and field team hosted the Pentucket Sachems on Tuesday in their first head to head competition since Pentucket squeezed out a victory against the Hornets last spring in the state championship meet. The Hornets had defeated the Sachems head to head during the regular season last spring and also bested them in the Cape Ann League Championship but Pentucket was victorious at the state championship being the first team to defeat North Reading at states since 2015. This defeat fueled the fire as the Hornets are primed to take back the title this year and wanted to open up with a victory against the defending champions.

The weather was in the 50s with a light drizzle turning into a moderate rain towards the end of the meet but the Hornets didn’t let that hold them back as they won 12 of 17 events winning the meet with a score of 87-58.

Leading the team to victory was top point scorer Giuliana Ligor who accomplished a tremendous triple winning the 400 Meter Hurdles (64.1), 400 Meters (62.7), and anchored the winning 4×400 meter relay (67.9).

To open up the meet, Ligor bested Emily Rubio from Pentucket who was last year’s league MVP, one of the best hurdlers in the state and an All American in the Pentathlon this past indoor track and field season. Ligor’s time of 1:04.1 lowers her own school record set just last week by over 1.5 seconds.

Ava McIntyre also had a big day scoring 9.25 points, winning the 100 Meters (12.8), taking second in the long jump with a whopping 17’ 0” leap losing by only 1” to Pentucket’s Emily Rubio and was also part of the winning 4×100 meter relay that ran 51.5 as she split 12.5 seconds on the second leg.

Annalise Butler pulled off an impressive double taking 2nd in the one mile (5:36.5) and 1st in the two mile (12:17.1) both with state qualifying marks.

 

 

Madison Vant added 7.25 points with a third place in the 400M Hurdles (1:10.9) a victory in the Javelin (92’ 9”), and was part of the winning 4×400 meter relay that ran 4:30.3 running the second leg in 65.9 seconds.

Julia DeAngelis was also part of that relay, running the opening leg in 68.0 seconds and winning the Pole Vault (7’0”) to add 6.25 points to the team total.

Additional winners of events included Abigail Lilley in the Discus Throw (105’ 0”), Annie MacLellan in the 100 Meter Hurdles (17.7), Emma Mini in the Shot Put (33’0”), and Georgia Robarts in the Triple Jump (34’ 1.5”). Annie MacLellan also took third in the 800 meters (2:43.3).

Hayden MacLellan took 2nd in the Pole Vault (7’0”). Abigail Gerber took 2nd in the Discus Throw (84’ 8”). Ava Collins took 2nd in the Two Mile (12:56.6). Alyssa Demetri took 2nd in the Javelin Throw (79’ 5”).

Tiara Lamont took 3rd in the 400 (1:06) and was part of the winning 4×400 meter relay (68 split). Samantha Patch took 3rd in the 200 (29.3) and anchored the winning 4×100 meter relay (13.5 split). Also running that relay were lead off Madison DiNapoli (13.0) and 3rd leg Kayla Budny (12.6).

Ella Monteleone was 3rd in the 100M Hurdles (18.2). Samantha Magner took 3rd in the Discus Throw (82’ 9”). Jacqueline Magner took 3rd in the Javelin Throw (72’ 1”). Riley Cullen took 3rd in the Shot Put (29’ 2”).

Up next, the Hornets look to defend their MSTCA State Relay Championship at Sandwich High School on Friday, April 29. That is a meet they have won every season since 2016. Look for that story in next week’s Transcript.