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State Finals '07
Oliver Ames frosh Jenna Davidner talks with her coach before the two mile. Jenna placed 2nd behind senior Colleen Wetherbee. Outside of Easton, few people know that she's a neighbor of Andy and Sarah Powell, both long-distance icons in Massachusetts.
Notre Dame Academy coach Rick Kates imparts words of wisdom to his team.
Sophomore Laura Weeks (far right) is another Oliver Ames "big perfomer" in a small package. When she jumped 5'3 at the D2 meet she was looking up at the bar before take-off.
The "King" of the long jump prepares to add another state championship to her credentials.
Newton South coach Steve McChesney meets with an athlete. I hope to bring you an "up close and personal" interview with Steve in early April.
Another scholar-athlete studying. Is it an order of events or her history homework?
Mansfield's sophomore Dan Glavin (left) placed 2nd, the only sophomore to make state finals. He's pictured next to Mansfield alum Scott Holster who now is NA's head boys' coach and outdoor girls' throwing coach.
D-Y always provides top-notch help, both in knowledge and personality.

Allyson Oram (far right) was too embarrased to pose alone. She placed 3rd in the mile at 5:09.41. Here she is with two unidentified teammates. If you know their names, please contact me at northrunning@yahoo.com so I can include them.

I heard from two separate people right away. Here's what they had to say.

#1 I was looking at your 'random pictures' from the massachusetts all-state meet and saw that you were unaware of the names of two runners in a picture with Allyson Oram. The one on the left is senior Christina Kunycky and the girl in the middle is freshman Cathy Withers, both also from Marlborough High School. The three of them with along with sophmore Brianna Kunycky, Christina's younger sister, competed in the 4 x 800 relay. They placed 4th over all and ran a school record time of 9:37.31! Running the first leg was Brianna Kunycky, 2nd Allyson Oram, 3rd Christina Kunycky, 4th Cathy Withers. Hope that helps!

#2 I was browsing through your state meet pictures and came across the picture of some Marlboro runners. They are from our neck of the woods and have built a tremendous program over the past several years. They won the Div I District E meet for the first time in many years over perennial CMASS powerhouses Algonquin, Wachusett and Shrewsbury. And at the class meet their 4x800 team broke the meet record. They also have won the sportsmanship award a couple of times for their focus on community service.

The girl on the far left is Christina Kunycky, a senior who won the 1000 at the District E meet. She has run a 3:12 1000. Her younger sister Brianna is a soph who also runs the 1000 (she ran a 3:12 in a slower heat at the DII meet)

I'm not 100% certain who the girl in the middle is, but it might be another Freshman, Kathy Withers, who is a two miler.

Junior Jess Forster of Andover with her favorite high jump coach. Who do you think has the best vertical leap?
Why does that guy keep taking pictures of the high jump? Well, I was a high jumper "back in the day" when the pits were sawdust and you wouldn't think of turning your back to the metal high jump bar!

Stoughton's first year senior Benton Wong missed finals of the 55M dash by .004

1 Walker, Darius SR Lexington 6.47q
2 Williams, Datrion SO Madison Park 6.53q
3 Williams, Jeff SR Hingham 6.56q
4 McConnel, Christopher FR Andover 6.60q
5 Thibodeaux, Marquis SR Brockton 6.66q
6 Bruno, Jeff SR Stoneham 6.67q
7 Searcy, Mike JR Natick 6.69q
8 Velez, Darius SR Cambridge 6.70q 6.695
9 Wong, Benton SR Stoughton 6.70 6.999

Ben was the surprise (to me) Hockomock Champion. It is his first year of any sport at Stoughton. When I asked him whether he was doing spring track his answer was, "Maybe."

This is Foxboro's 4X400, minus star Shannon Cunningham who was off preparing for the 300M. They were ranked 7th at 1:48.55 - a very good time. Anyone familiar with this relay knows that one great runner can't make it happen alone. These girls must have had incredible races to get to this meet.
Steve McChesney's budding distance stars.
I'm not a big "rah rah" guy, so my team wouldn't dare do this. But props to OA for bringing some spirit to the meet. Now if they'd only let us spike the relay baton after winning!
Waiting to take the track in the two-mile.
Sometimes sprinters don't come off as the most sportsmanlike athletes. The US image in the dash has a mixed past. They sometimes come off as arrogant and self-involved. I was impressed with this group. JUst before the 55M dash finals these guys were all wishing good luck to each other.
Notre Dame's 4X2 in the gym. They came in ranked 19th and placed 11th.
This pensive Stoneham team came in ranked 8th at 1:49.65. They placed 12th at a remarkably identical time.Impressive for a school that used some of their top runners to place 1st in the 4X4.
Watching her school's 4X8 before her chance to run the 4X2
I also included this picture in my "artistic" section. Is this the next generation of track and field officials?
And I thought Ipswich was only known for fried clams. Their 4X4 placed 5th at 4:05.26.