4×200 relay team sets a WMHS record

THE WMHS track teams were well represented at the New Balance Nationals this weekend at Greensboro, N.C. In the front row (from left to right) are Adam Roberto, Kevin Russo, Jackson Gallagher and Cam Yasi. In the back row (from left to right) are Assistant Coach Justin Berry, Head Boys’ Track Coach Ruben Reinoso, Head Girls’ Track Coach Karen Barrett, Joe Hurton, Alec Rodgers, Julia Derendal, Eric Chi, Ian Ritchie, Assistant Coach Anthony LaFratta and Assistant Coach Perry Pappas.

THE WMHS track teams were well represented at the New Balance Nationals this weekend at Greensboro, N.C. In the front row (from left to right) are Adam Roberto, Kevin Russo, Jackson Gallagher and Cam Yasi. In the back row (from left to right) are Assistant Coach Justin Berry, Head Boys’ Track Coach Ruben Reinoso, Head Girls’ Track Coach Karen Barrett, Joe Hurton, Alec Rodgers, Julia Derendal, Eric Chi, Ian Ritchie, Assistant Coach Anthony LaFratta and Assistant Coach Perry Pappas.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Warrior outdoor track teams extended their seasons by two more weeks and competed at the New Balance National track and

THE 4x200 relay team set a WMHS record with a time of 1:32.94 at the New Balance Track and Field Nationals. From left to right are Joe Hurton, Cam Yasi, Kevin Russo and Eric Chi.

THE 4×200 relay team set a WMHS record with a time of 1:32.94 at the New Balance Track and Field Nationals. From left to right are Joe Hurton, Cam Yasi, Kevin Russo and Eric Chi.

field meet in Greensboro, N.C.

Wakefield was very fortunate to bring nine athletes to compete in the great meet.

In the 4×800 relay, senior Jackson Gallagher, sophomore Adam Roberto, junior Alec Rodgers and senior Ian Ritchie ran a time of 8:08.45. They were fifth in their heat and 24th overall. Ritchie ran a 1:55 split, which would have surpassed his current school record if he had run an open 800 meters.

In the 4×200 relay, junior Eric Chi, junior Kevin Russo, senior Cam Yasi and senior Joe Hurton ran a school record time of 1:32.94. They were second in their heat and were 20th overall.

In the javelin Russo had a throw of 148-4.

“I am really proud of our athletes and coaches because to be competing this late in the year takes hard work, dedication and commitment,” said Head Coach Ruben Reinoso. “Bobby Knight was quoted as saying, ‘The key is not the will to win, everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.’ I feel that this quote sums up our season. We were so wrapped up around making practice perfect that the meets just seemed an extension of practice. We were successful this year because we practiced hard and winning was just a by-product of how we practiced.”

Reinoso reflected on some of the things that the boys accomplished.

The Warriors were ​M​iddlesex ​L​eague ​c​hamps, for the first time since 1973. They set school records in the 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 relays. Ritchie set the school record in the 800 meters. Wakefield finished up the year with the top 4×400, 4×800 and best triple jump marks (43-11 1/2 by Hurton) in Division 3. Wakefield had the most Div. 3 qualifiers and All-State qualifiers in a long time.

“Our goal every year is to get better and I think our performance speaks for itself. I want to thank my seniors for being such a great class, my captains for doing everything that the coaching staff has asked of them, the underclassmen for doing all the necessary things to make our team successful and believing in the program and finally my coaching staff for being best staff in the state. It is no secret that we have been successful because we have great talent on both sides, the athletes and my staff. Every single one of them has done so much for our program, Perry Pappas (distance), Justin Berry (throws and strength/conditioning), Elias Reinoso (hurdles and horizontal jumps) Anthony LaFratta (sprints and relays), Gregg Gibbs (sprints and strength/conditioning) and Ryan Yurchick (javelin).”

In addition to the Warrior boys, one female from the girls’ track team competed in the meet as well.

Junior Julia Derendal competed in the javelin and she finished 30th with a throw of 90-0.  She fouled on her first two throws which were in the 115-120 range and had to be really cautious with her third throw.

“It was such a wonderful season for her,” said Head Coach Karen Barrett. “The experience of getting to compete at the Nationals was amazing. She will be training this summer to compete at The Bay State games at Tufts in July.”

Published in the Monday, June 22nd edition