Published in the May 31, 2018 edition

By JERLIN KAITHAMATTAM

NORTH READING — After an undefeated season, a Cape Ann League title, a Cape Ann League Open Championship and a State Relay Championship, the North Reading girls’ track and field team has just put the icing on the cake: taking home first place in the Div. 3 outdoor track and field State Championships this past Saturday on their own turf.

To win a meet is one thing, but to go through an entire season filled with nothing but victories is quite another. This seemingly impossible feat has been made possible through the hard work of the girls along with outstanding coaching.

This year, the Hornets moved up to a new division, going from D4 to D3. They went into this spring season as the underdogs and yet, they still managed to take home first; regardless of the fact that they were up against unfamiliar faces, with a set of talents they have never faced before. The girls did not let their new competition faze them. They remained poised and determined and in the end, amassed 108.583 points, ahead of the second place team Milton (103 pts), third place (64.66pts) and more.

THE LADY HORNETS pose for a team photo after winning the Div. 3 State Championship on their home track on Saturday. (John Friberg Photo)

The state meet is unique in that the scoring works quite differently in comparison to other meets. Here, the top eight finalists earn 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 point(s) depending on which place they finish in. Additionally, the top four finishers in each event advance automatically to the All-State championship meet in which the top athletes in each event from all five divisions across the state meet to determine the best of the best.

Though the championship meet itself took place on Saturday, the state meet events began on Thursday May 24. The girls’ pole vault competition, as well as the Pentathlon both took place at the NRHS track and field.

The Pentathlon is a five-event competition, where athletes participating have to qualify throughout the season by participating in each event (100 meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, and 800 meter run). This year, six out of the 12 athletes competing in the pentathlon were from North Reading: Victoria Grasso, Maggie McCarthy, Lauren Gulbicki, Ava Jolie Femia, Ali Grasso, and Julia Thorstad.

HEAD COACH Sotirios Pintzopoulos gets caught off guard with this perfectly executed bucket shower to celebrate NR’s state championship. (John Friberg Photo)

Coming in first, winning the Pentathlon, was sophomore Ali Grasso. Taking fourth was senior Victoria Grasso, followed by a fifth place finish by senior Maggie McCarthy, and 6th place finish by freshman Julia Thorstad.

In the pole vault, five NR athletes competed, and all five placed. Coming in 8th was freshman Ashley Rabbitt (7’6”); 7th was freshman Angelina Casciano (8’0”); 4th was senior Rachel Hill (8’6”); 2nd was senior Sophia Casciano (10’0”) and the champion for the girls’ pole vault was sophomore Isabella Parrett jumping 10’0”. At the end of Thursday’s events, before the Championship meet had even begun, the North Reading Girls’ Track team was already in first place, with 47.33 points serving as a cushion as they headed into the highly anticipated State Meet on Saturday.

Kicking off the meet on Saturday for running events was the 2-mile run, in which sophomore Lindsay MacLellan placed 5th, gaining four points, with a time of 11:52.56. Next on the track, senior Meredith Griffin ran the one mile, placing 4th, earning five points, and advancing to the All-State Meet.

Next on the track was the trials for the 100m hurdles. Competing in this were Seniors Maggie McCarthy, Lauren Gulbicki, and Jerlin Kaithamattam, along with sophomore Ali Grasso, and freshman Katelyn Gorgenyi. After the trials, Ali Grasso (16.00s), Katelyn Gorgenyi (16.10s), and Jerlin Kaithamattam (16.86s) advanced to the finals. In the finals, Kaithamattam placed 8th, earning one point; Gorgenyi placed 4th, advancing to the all-state meet, and earning five points, and Grasso placed 2nd, earning eight points, and advancing to the all-state meet as well.

The next event on the track was the 100 meter trials, in which Gorgenyi qualified for the finals. With the 100m dash finals taking place immediately after the 100m hurdles finals  Gorgenyi had to run in back-to-back events. Regardless, she was still able to run an outstanding time and place 8th, bringing in another point for North Reading.

In the triple jump, sophomore Ali Grasso and juniors Megan Lawlor and Kaitlyn Shevlin placed and earned points for the team. Shevlin jumped 35’02.50” and placed 7th, scoring two points for the team. Lawlor jumped 35’10.75” placing 4th, bringing in five points for the team and qualifying for the all-state meet. Grasso jumped an impressive 37’02.50” finishing 2nd, bringing in eight points for the team, qualifying for the all-state meet and setting the new school record in the triple jump.

Lawlor and Shevlin both competed in the long jump. Shevlin jumped a total of 16’04.50.” Lawlor jumped an outstanding 17’07.75” placing first, bringing in 10 points for the team, and qualifying for the all-state meet. Junior Kerry O’Brien participated in the high jump, and jumped 4’9” tying for 8th place.

Junior Alyssa Crugnale threw discus and ended with a final throw of 87’10.” Finishing up the throwing events was javelin. Victoria Grasso, Crugnale and junior Abby Martin all competed. Crugnale finished 6th, with a throw of 101’08”, bringing in three points for the team. Martin threw an impressive 106’06” placing 4th overall, bringing in five points for the team and qualifying for the all-state meet.

After the finals for the 100m dash, the relay events began. First on the track was the 4x800m relay which was run by Grace Hadley, Lindsay MacLellan, Olivia Esposito, and Meredith Griffin. This outstanding team ran a impressive 9:58.22, coming in 5th place and bringing in four points for the team. Following the 4×800 was the 4x100m dash run by Rachel Hill, Kaitlyn Shevlin, Megan Lawlor, and Katelyn Gorgenyi, who finished in 51.57. Finally, the last event on the track was the 4x400m relay. At this point, without even running the relay, the Hornets had amassed enough points to secure their victory in the meet. The 4×400 team of Grace Hadley, Mia DeNofrio, Jerlin Kaithamattam, and Julia Thorstad still ran their hardest, finishing in 4:26.99.

The North Reading girls’ track and field team has managed to make the impossible possible. It is not easy to go into a new division and sweep every victory, but the Hornets have somehow managed to make this a reality. The Hornets were able to win the meet without any athletes competing in the 400m hurdles, 200m dash, 400m dash, 800m, and shot put. Numerous teams have athletes in every event and are still unable to earn points to lead them to a victory. The Hornets on the other hand, were able to go into the meet without athletes in five events and still  come out on top. This just goes to show how truly their hard work is what keeps them going. Their dedication to the sport is unmatched, their spirit shines through at every competition and the fire they have to win can’t be found anywhere else.

For many, Saturday was the last meet of the season; for some seniors, their last meet ever, and for others, their last time competing at their home turf. It was a bittersweet day for sure, as many seniors said their final goodbye to a sport they’ve been playing throughout high school. For those who are done competing, amazing job this past season. And for those competing in the all-state meet coming up, good luck as you make North Reading proud! Once again, congratulations to the entire North Reading girls’ track and field team for being the Division 3 outdoor track and field Champions!