Wakefield boys’ track wins 2022 D3 state championship

THE WARRIORS brought home the boys’ track 2022 Div. 3 state championship trophy from Westfield State yesterday. (WMHS track and field photo)

 

WESTFIELD — The Wakefield High boys’ track and field team had a long drive out to Westfield not once this weekend, but twice.

It paid off in the end as the Warriors were crowned Division 3 state champions after scoring 76.5 points over the two-day event. It was a full team effort as points were scored in many areas.

“It was a complete team effort and our team really stepped up to win this title,” said head coach Ruben Reinoso.

The meet started off on Friday with the multi-event pentathlon.

Sophomore Joe Patt was strong over all five events of the pentathlon to grab his first State title topping the field of athletes by scoring 2,647 points ahead of the 2nd place finisher of North Attleboro who scored 2,351.

Patt started things off with a monster PR in the 110 hurdles in a time of 17.78 to put him in 2nd place. In the long jump, he jumped a PR of 18’8.5”, also the 2nd best jump of the day. In the shot put, he threw the 2nd best throw of 37’5.75”. Patt had the best high jump leaping 5’3.75”. His 1500 was the third fastest in a time of 5:05.

Anthony Arria also had a great day placing 5th overall with 1,966 points. In the 110 hurdles, he ran a PR of 20.8. In the long jump, Arria had a jump of 18’5. In the shot put, he had a personal best throw of 25’7.25. In the high jump, he tied Patt for the best of the day at 5’3.75. In the 1500, Arria ran a time of 5:43.43.

That pentathlon success built a solid foundation for the Warriors to build on as the rest of Friday’s events unfolded.

Bradley Diaz won his first 800 meter State Championship title. He pulled away early and didn’t look back, finishing with a time of 1:58.56.

Diaz followed his 800 meter state championship on day one by also winning a state championship in the 400 meters on day two with a time of 49.83 for some much-needed team points.

Ajay Haridasse had a big day one as well, finishing 3rd in the 800 with a time of 2:00.24.

Ben Stratton went out at a blazing fast pace in the 2 mile and finished up in 7th place with a time of 9:59.25. Leith Jones placed 10th in the event with a PR of 10:00.63. Thomas Dowd was 23rd in 10:20.36.

 

 

In the 400 meter hurdles, James Christie ran a 62.98 and was 16th overall.

In the 200 meters, Lucas Kehoe ran a time of 23.56 and was 10th overall to wrap up a strong first day for the Warriors.

Wakefield returned to Westfield on Sunday, not quite in the driver’s seat but in position to make a charge.

“Going into day two, we were behind Oliver Ames and we knew that in order for us to have a shot at the team title, certain things needed to go our way,” said Reinoso. “The kids answered the call and stepped up big time to make this happen.”

Day two kicked off in the right direction as Josh Catino placed 4th in the pole vault, clearing his best height of 11 feet and scoring valuable points.

Freshman Ryan Hogan and Henry Brown both cleared opening height of 8’6” to place 12th and 13th.

In the 110 meter hurdles, Matt Burns ran a 17.03 and was 22nd overall.

In the 100 meters, Ryan Tracy ran a 12.14 and was 37th; Javin Willis ran a 12.35 and was 39th and Mardin Minasian ran a 12.66 and was 41st overall.

Christie ran a PR of 53.16 to place 13th in the 400 meters.

In the long jump, Lucas Kehoe jumped 21’1.25 and was 6th overall.

In the javelin, Joe Patt advanced to the finals and placed 9th with a throw of 134’8”.

In the high jump, Kehoe jumped 6’2 and was 4th overall. Will Riley had a personal best of 5’10 and tied for 7th place.

Stratton rebounded from the 2 mile just two days earlier to place 3rd in the mile in a time of 4:28.85.

Ajay Haridasse followed up his 3rd place in the 800 meters with a 5th place in the mile in 4:29.49. Leith Jones was 9th in 4:37.72.

The 4x 100 meter relay team of Alejandro Borda, Anthony Arria, Javin Willis and Ryan Tracy ran a time of 47.78 and were 18th overall.

The 4×400 meter relay team of James Christie, Brody Wyatt, Mike Roberto, and Joe Patt placed 13th in a time of 3:39.97.

The 4×800 meter relay team of Stratton, Haridasse, Mike Roberto and Diaz ran a fast time of 8:06.47 to shut the door on the meet and secure the team title.

“I am so proud of this group of kids and the way they have been able to face adversity,” said Reinoso. “No one knows this better than this senior group. Last year, they were second at Divisionals; this indoor season they won the state relays championship but then came in second at the Divisionals; this spring, they were second at state relays by just one point and finally at this meet they were able to achieve this huge win.

“I am also so thankful for our coaching staff. Coach Perry Pappas is by far the best distance coach in the state and I see every day how he works with our kids to make sure that they are ready to compete not just on the track but also in the classroom and in the community.

“Coach Anthony Lafratta has been with me for a long time and I cannot ask for a better sprints, jumps and relays coach. He can be a head coach at any program and I am honored that he coaches with us. The kids really appreciate all the time he dedicates to our program and he always finds a way to get the best out of them. I cannot ask for better role models for our athletes than coach Pappas and coach LaFratta.

“I also want to thank some of our former athletes who have come back this year to help out coaching. Jonathan Miksis and Adriana Minasian have done a great job helping our throwers and jumpers this year.

“Finally, I want to thank our administration, athletic department and our booster parents for being so supportive of our program every year.”