Boys’ track team has many terrific performances against their peers
BEN JOLY, a senior, captured first place in the shot put with a throw of 49-11 at the Middlesex League 12 Track and Field Championship Meet yesterday at Regis College.
WELLESLEY — When members of the Warrior boys’ track team compete in the state meets, they are being pitted against many of the best track and field athletes in the state.
Going against athletes from the other 11 Middlesex League teams is pretty darn good competition for Wakefield as well.
The Warriors crowned two champions, set a school record and had many other place winners in the Middlesex League 12 Track and Field Championships which were held yesterday at Regis College.
“We came out and competed against, in my opinion, the best league in the state,” said Coach Ruben Reinoso. “This is why our athletes always perform really well in the state championships because we have some of the best competition in our own league. We were sixth overall in this meet.”
Wakefield scored 56.50 points in the showcase.
Senior Ben Joly was crowned a champion in the shot put as he took first with a throw of 49-11. Joly beat his competition by eight inches. Currently, Joly is third in Div. 3 and seventh in the state.
Pat Redmond, a freshman, was 12th in the shot put with a throw of 39-1.
The 4×400 relay was first overall with a time of 3:27.66 and the runners were seniors Cam Yasi, Joe Hurton, Ian Ritchieand Jackson Gallagher.
The Warriors excelled in the 800 meter run as both Ritchie and Gallagher had outstanding performances as they captured second and fourth place.
Ritchie is probably more known for his soccer skills but with the accomplishments on the track the past two years, track coaches, athletes and fans across the state have taken notice. Yesterday in the 800 meters, Ritchie made a big move from behind with 300 meters to go and nearly won the title, breaking a 20 year old school record in the process with a time of 1:56.16. He nearly caught Colin Raposa of Burlington who was first with a time of 1:56.08.
Gallagher came out fast and ran the fastest 800 meters of his career yesterday to place fourth in a time of 1:57.77. Reinoso believes there is no doubt that Gallagher will go under that record as well by the time the season is over.
“The 800 meter run is probably one of the hardest races that is contested on the track because it requires speed and stamina,” said Reinoso. “To be successful the athlete has to be aggressive but patient. Both Jackson Gallagher and Ian Ritchie proved yesterday that they are two of the best if not the best 800 meter runners that Wakefield has ever seen. They train hard together every day and have pushed each other to the next level. When you train with the best you become the best.”
Pat Casaletto, a senior, was third in the long jump with a 20-5 1/4, while Jian Glenn Gallardo, a junior, was eighth with a 18-8 1/2. In the high jump, Casaletto jumped 5-7 and was tied for eighth.
In the triple jump Hurton was fourth overall with a distance of 42-1 and Geaney was 14th with a leap of 37-0.
Hurton also placed eighth in the 400 meter run with a time of 52.68 seconds. Yasi was 12th with at 53.80 seconds and Gallardo was 16th with a 55.01 seconds.
The 4×100 relay team was sixth with a time of 45.51 seconds and the runners were Gallardo, freshman Henry Stikeman, sophomore Dan Sallade and junior Eri Chi.
The 4×800 relay placed also placed sixth as the Warrior quartet clocked in at 8:56.32. Junior Alex Guerriero (2:10), sophomore Dave Melanson (2:14), freshman Tommy Lucey (2:16) and junior Tyler Whipple (2:14) were the four runners.
The two mile had two more state qualifiers. Junior Alec Rodgers ran a personal best time of 10:14.61 to place sixth overall and junior Richie Custodio ran a personal best for 10th place in 10:21.18.
In the 400 meter hurdles, senior Brian Dickey was eighth with a time of 61.38 seconds.
Wakefield also had some good performances among the non-medalist athletes as well.
In the discus, sophomore Joe Connell was 10th with a throw of 104-1 and Dan Wensley, a senior, was 12th overall with a heave of 101-6.
In the javelin, Alex Jancsy, a junior, was ninth with a 126-11 and Sean McNall, a sophomore, was 14th with a 120-5.
Chi ran a time of 11.59 seconds and tied for ninth in the 100 meter dash. Stikeman was 26th with a time of 11.54 seconds.
In the 110 hurdles, sophomores Ben Thompson ran 20.26 seconds and Peter Crump ran 20.76 seconds for 22nd and 23rd place.
In the 200 meter dash, Geaney ran a time of 24.83 seconds and was 13th, while sophomore Dan Sallade was 15th with a time of 24.91 seconds.
Freshman Matt Greatorex (4:58.94) finished in 20th in the mile and junior Chris Skeldon (5:03.06) place 24th in the event.
Also running the 800 was Ryan Sullivan, a sophomore. He placed 17th at 2:12.00.
In the high jump, Alex McKenna, a sophomore, competed as well.
Wakefield has a makeup dual meet next Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. against Woburn at the Beasley Track and Field to wrap up the regular season. On Saturday, the Last Chance to Qualify Meet is being held at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham and Wakefield may have several athletes competing as they try to get into the Div. 3 state meet.
