Elite Meet – Sunday - Girls
55M Dash
1 O Dea, Molly SR Hingham 7.35
3 Cheek, Chelsee SR Reading 7.40
4 Banks, Ezra SR Newton South 7.41
6 Rideout, Aimee SR Woburn 7.44
13 Comer, Kayla SO Mansfield 7.52
14 Smith, Samantha SR Canton 7.57
Molly O'Dea has personality, speed and experience so I wouldn't bet against her.
Major Hock match-ups
Though it looks like an uphill climb to place, this meet will go far towards determining the favorite at Hocks. Comer is the new-comer to the elite status while Smith is the seasoned veteran. I think Smith likes HJ better so her results there might influence her running later in the meet.
300M
Mansfield's returning state champion Emily Broyles is #1 seed (40.45-'09) but Arlington's Rebecca Robinson (sophomore-41.43) and Becky Stoyle (Pembroke-junior-41.98) could take her to the wire. It's tough getting to the top but its even tougher staying there. Teammate Jen Esposito sits as 14 th seed at 42.76. She needs to improve by at least .5 to place. Sharon has Camille Henry sitting 19 th at 42.96.
600M
Holy smokes! This is the race of the day! Top athletes from other events have moved up and down to duke it out in the 3-lapper. 1K specialist Natalie Paine (SR-Northhampton-1:33.84) and state XC champ Andrea Keclak (JR-Lincoln-Sudbury-1:35.00) will throw down a memorable performance but don't rule out #5 seed Kendal Knous (SO-Franklin-1:38.50). She isn't the runner her seed-time would predict. Knous is so much more. As runner up in the state 400M as a frosh this is a girl who won't be intimidated by big names.
1000M
Though none have broken 3-minutes yet this year, Monica Addler (SR-Beverly-3:01.21), Jill Corcoran (JR-Weymouth-3:01.23) and Melanie Fineman (SR-Newton South-3:01.70) all have the pedigrees to make it happen. I hate putting pressure on Emily Grotz but the sophomore from Oliver Ames looked so comfortable running 3:04.10 for a frosh/soph meet win that I've got to think that running with the big dogs is going to pull her to greatness.
Don't forget that Franklin has two great runners in the meet. Although it is doubtful that she'll place, frosh Lauren Hagen tossed down a sparkling 3:11.30 at Franklin Field House and is seeded 15 th . Alexandria Geise, more known for the mile and deuce has dropped to the 1000M to check her seed. She sits at 21 st seed in 3:12.40.
Mile
Kathy O'Keefe (JR-Newton South-5:04.10) will ho-hum her way to an easy victory. Hock star Ali Kirsch is running strong right now and sits as 6 th seed (SR-5:19.32). She has a shot at the podium – but so do the five runners right behind her who are seeded within three seconds of her. I'd really like to see her bust one out here.
Two Mile
Wow! The top seven seeds in this race are seniors. Jenna Davidner is still recovering from an ankle injury that kept her out of XC finals. She's happy with her cross-training fitness level and has been able to finally do some running. The question is whether she's ready for the return to competition. It won't be easy on her with Beverly's Millie Chapman at 11:15.00 and Marlborough's Allyson Orum at 11:19.00. Franklin's Mary Cole (6 th -11:26.70) and Megan Ross (JR-11 th -11:36.39) will both be in the hunt for a medal.
55M Hurdles
Sommerville's super-sophomore Nicole Genard is seeded first at 8.39. Can Sheppard Hill senior Elizabeth Monty (8.41), Triton standout Deanna Latham (SR-8.42) or Brockton's Vanessa Clerveaux (SO-8.44) catch her? The wild card is North Attleboro's 6 th seeded Christy Deininger (8.70) who has worked hard on her sprint speed and technique. This will test her ability to put it all together.
High Jump
Moira Cronin (Andover-JR-5'10) is looking for the magical 6'. Only Janelle Clarkson (Seekonk-SR-5'6) looks to give her trouble. Samantha Smith (6-way tie for 4th-Canton-SR-5'3) would love to stand on the podium. It would be a fitting honor for such a solid career. Sheppard Hill's Emily Mattson (SO-also 5'3) is still trying to regain her mojo from a frosh campaign that saw her flying higher.
Long Jump
I've said I before and I'll say it again. For some reason the long jump doesn't light me up indoors and it should. But people, myself included, just don't find the time to get into it unless there's a friend jumping. This is a dream field. Deanna Latham is an honest-to-goodness flying machine. Yet, if she doesn't jump 18' she could lose. There are six more jumpers seeded at over 17' and they are all the real deal. Just look at the names! Kim Cadeiro (SR-Falmouth-17'9.5), Allyson Crooke (SR-Lexington-17'7.5), Berkeley Hall (SR-Pembroke-17'7), Becky Stoyle (JR-Pembroke-17'3), Abbey Petterutto (SR-Andover-17'3) and Chelsea Cheek (SR-Reading-17'1). That doesn't even take into account Rebecca Robinson and Nicole Genard who are potential medalists. Mansfield senior Nina Monestime is seeded 11 th at 16'5.
Shot Put
The Hockomock has three solid throwers in the hunt. Chidimma Nwankwo (2 nd -Canton-JR-37'2), Katie Kelleher (KP-SR-6 th -36'1) and Laura Daley (OA-SO-8 th -35'4) all have high hopes. Or in this case it should be called long hopes. Top seed is Durfee junior at 37'8.25and Seekonk's SR Krista Chauvin (4 th -37'0) also has a shot at gold.
Canton
has another solid thrower. Senior Amarachi Njoku has tossed
33'3 already this year.
4X200M
Canton (4 th -1:47.61) and Mansfield (5 th -1:48.00) are in the seeded heat chasing Andover (1:45.23), Boston Latin (1:45.95) and Waltham (1:47.21). Since Mansfield threw down a 1:45 at the state relays they are in the hunt for the top step of the podium. Sharon (7 th -1:48.22) will have relatively clear sailing in the penultimate heat. That will help then should any of the seeded heat trailers get messed up in those crowded exchanges.
Oliver Ames (14 th -1:49.50) and Franklin (24 th -1:51.00) also made the cut.
4 X 400
Mansfield is seeded 12 th (4:15.00) but don't expect to see Broyles in that race. Waschusett (4:02.) expects a runaway but Lincoln-Sudbury could be much better than their 4:08 if they stack that race. That's a big IF, but then again they didn't bother with the 4X8 which is a big event for them. So expect Claire Arthur and Andrea Keklak to lead the assault.
Franklin (19 th -4:18.00)., Canton (22-4:19.44) and North Attleborough (24-4:19.96) are also running. NA features three sophs (Sydney Roberts, Zoe LeClair, Natasha Gavilanez) and freshman Rose Mooney.
4X800M
Franklin is top-seed at 9:40. They have a stacked team but will also have to deal with most doubling back from an open event – something they usually handle well. Bishop Feehan (9:40.50), Newton South (9:43.90) and Weymouth (9:45) also have stacked teams.
7 th seed Oliver Ames (9:53.00) and Wellesley (8 th -9:55) both can run bettrer than their seeds and can place. Mansfield also made the cut (15 th -10:10) with Cassie Olson listed to run with Lauren Columbare, Anastacia Lutkevich and Anna Dominessey.