Wheelock state champ, Cook second & relay team 3rd
Published in the June 2, 2017 edition
STATE MEDALISTS Adam Cook (left), Sean Conlan, Griffin Barriss and Kevin Wheelock were among those who home hardware at the Div. 3 State Finals. Senior Kevin Wheelock (right) also became the state champ in the 2 mile. (courtesy photo Dgyboard via Twitter)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High boy’s outdoor track team proved among the best at the 2017 Div. 3 State Finals at Burlington High on Sunday, placing sixth among nearly 40 teams and crowning a state champion and silver medalist in the two mile race and a bronze medal relay performance.
Senior captain Kevin Wheelock earned his fourth state title of his high school career when he swept the two mile race at 9:26.33 (see accompanying story) and his teammate Adam Cook was right behind him at 9:42.74. Both of the runners also earned bronze medals as members of Melrose’s 3rd place 4×800 relay team along with Sean Conlan and Griffin Barriss with a time of 8:14.87.
All four will advance to compete in this weekend’s All States Championship at Bridgewater State University on Saturday, June 3. Wheelock and Cook are both seeded individually in the two mile. Wheelock enters ranked third and poised to medal. “I was happy with the result, and I just ran as best as I could,” he said after the race.
Cook, meanwhile, set out for a personal best and an All State qualification. Mission accomplished. “I went into the race looking for a personal record and to qualify for All States, and I got both,” says Cook. “I knew I was running with Kevin and I enjoy every race with him, we help each other out in training and racing. I’m grateful to have such an incredible teammate.”
Wheelock returns the compliment. “It’s been a lot of fun competing and being teammates with him. He is clearly a top runner and is a great competitor and person.”
Melrose from bottom-to-top was strong on the day with an excellent effort from Nick Chan (6th in high jump, 12th in the triple jump) and Sean Conlan (6th in 800 meters) along with the team’s 4×100 relay Steve Abbott, Isaac Seide, Peter Wiesen and Rey Guity, who came in fifth at 45.40. Steven Abbott placed 17th in the 200 dash while Seide was 17th in the 100 dash. Abbott and Weisen also competed in the long jump.
Sophomore Liam Rittenburg showed his range by competing in the pentathlon and was first in the 1500 meter portion of it.
Melrose finished 6th among all teams with 33 points, with Freedom rivals Burlington taking the top spot and Wakefield placing third, which shows how truly talented the ML Freedom League was this spring.
Melrose named six all stars this season: Steven Abbott, Adam Cook, Nick Chan, Isaac Seide, Liam Rittenburg and Kevin Wheelock. Their 4×800 relay team, meanwhile, will travel to North Carolina fort he New Balance Nationals on June 18.
All States takes place this Saturday morning at Bridgewater University.
