Despite some student-athletes away on school vacation – plus a few injuries – Marblehead’s track and field team fell short to Peabody, but not without positives, according to coach Nolan Raimo.
In the high jump, Ralph Pierre led the way for Marblehead with a clearance of 5-0 in his spring debut, while on the girls’ side, Paige Tredwell finished second with a 4-10.
The dynamic duo of Lillian Reddy (30-1) and Rachael Albert (29-8.5) continued their shot put show. Albert also won the discus with a 2-foot personal record of 105-9.
“These two went back and forth all indoor season and it seems like we’re picking up right where we left off,” said Marblehead coach Daniel Plunkett.
Sadie Halpern leaped to a long jump victory with a measure of 16-7.
“She had an incredible day, winning all three of her events (long jump, 100m, 200m) in convincing fashion,” Raimo said.
Alex Hersey – who also won a few hurdles races – finished second in the triple with a jump of 40-11.25, just 3 inches off his career best, while Philine Heuermann registered a 32-1 for the girls.
Graham Firestone won the javelin with a “monster toss,” as said by Plunkett, of 129-1.
Leaping over to the 400m hurdles, Grace Mortenson kicked off the spring with a 76.4 to take home first; Isaac Gross (9:52.5) and Marri O’Connell (11:52.4) cruised in the 2-mile.
“It was a great opening race for O’Connell, who is primed up for an incredible season,” Raimo said.
In a flash, Thomas Carlson sported a 10.7 in the 100m to edge Peabody’s multi-sport star, Eli Batista. On the girls’ side, Halpern ran away from the field in a remarkable time of 12.6.
As for the mile, coach Will Herlihy was quick to the point with his analysis.
“I’ve been saying it since the D3 State Championship of indoor: Will Cerrutti is a man on a mission,” he said. “Will put on a masterclass in racing to get his first win of the season (4:37.2).”
In the 4x100m, the Marblehead girls found success.
“Cora Gerson, Paige Tredwell, Lidia Jasmine Tiedra, and Lucy Flynn won the relay in a close finish with Lucy Flynn holding off one of Peabody’s top sprinters down the final stretch,” Raimo said.
Carlson swept the short sprints with a victory in the 200m (23.1), while James Pulido, Slater Johnson, Zachariah Pike, and Jonah Potach won the 4x400m.