Turns out, the transition to the winter sports season has been a pretty simple one for Josiah Fugate.
After an excellent cross country campaign that saw him named a Daily News All-Star, the Amesbury sophomore continued his dominance in the distance events during the CAL’s opening track meet this weekend. The Redhawks were able to squeak past Ipswich for a season-opening victory, 55-45, thanks in large part to Fugate posting the fastest time of any CAL athlete on the day in both the Mile (4:56.82) and the 2-Mile (10:43.86).
And historically, Fugate’s 2-Mile time is already the fifth-fastest in program history. Of course, he still has the better part of three full indoor seasons to try and chase down Drew Everett’s record set back in 2017 (10:02.15).
But elsewhere, the Amesbury boys were able to win six other events. Ben Wood, fresh off the football field, posted the fastest time of the day in the 55-meter (6.74), and also won the 55-hurdles (8.82) for the Redhawks. The team’s other winners were Connor Scialdone in the high jump (5-8), Lucas Ferreira in the shot put (40-9.50), Noah Blouin in the 600 (1:30.41) and Joe Puleo in the 300 (38.37).
The Amesbury girls, meanwhile, fell to Ipswich in their opener, 74-26. Julia Parsons was a winner for the Redhawks in the Mile (5:56.85), while Samya Clark posted the second-best shot put of any CAL athlete on the day (28-0).
TRITON: Boys and girls both get clutch wins
It took every single point for both Triton track teams over the weekend.
During the program’s season-opening meet, the Viking girls were able to hold on for a 57-43 win over Pentucket, while the boys also won by an even closer margain, 53-47. So it wasn’t just the event victories that got it done for the Vikings, but the athletes who hustled to pick up those second and thirds.
For the boys, Jack Lyman made a statement by posting the fastest 1000 time of any CAL athlete on the day (2:54.60). Triton’s 4×400 relay team was also the fastest of any unit in attendance (3:40.71), and the 4×200 squad raced to victory as well. Then individually, the Vikings picked up event wins from Scott Holscher in the 600 (1:33.31), Henry Dean in the 2-Mile (11:30.82), Alex Sauris in the shot put (37-10) and both William Hight and Michael Coco in the long jump (17-11.50).
Moving over to the girls, a trio of cross country standouts took care of the distance events. Ava Burl — our Daily News Cross Country MVP — posted the fastest Mile time of the day (5:50.58), while Mia Jaworski won the 2-Mile (13:12.42) and Alexa Bonasera handled the 1000 (3:31.94). Elsewhere, London Cole had the best throw in the shot put of any CAL athlete (28-10), Colleen Johnson won the 55-hurdles (9.49) and the team’s 4×400 relay unit took care of business (4:43.53).
PENTUCKET: Sydney Trout makes anticipated return
The last time the area saw Sydney Trout run indoor track, she was named a Daily News All-Star after posting the second-fastest time in Pentucket history in both the 55-meter (7.43) and the 300 (42.61).
But that was two years ago now.
Sadly, Trout tore her ACL during her junior soccer season last fall. The injury not only forced her to miss all of last year’s indoor track season, but also kept her sidelined during lacrosse in the spring. Luckily, the elite athlete and Daily News Lacrosse All-Star already had enough film to earn herself a commitment to the women’s program at Duke University.
Those long rehab days, though, are a thing of the past.
Trout is back competing in a Pentucket jersey, and certainly wasted no time reintroducing herself to the CAL track scene over the weekend. The Panthers weren’t able to overcome rival Triton, but Trout was a triple-event winner in the 55-meter (7.65), the 300 (43.24) and as the anchor leg of the 4×200 relay team (1:56.29).
Addie Roach, Regan Breen and Morgan Trout joined her on the winning 4×200 relay, and Trout — Morgan, that is — added a victory in the long jump as well (14-6.50). Also winning events for the Panthers was Brighton Seymour in the 600 (1:52.26) and Delaney Meagher in the high jump (5-0).
The Pentucket boys also lost a close meet to Triton, but had their highlights.
Mainly coming from top sprinter Gabe Macleod.
After a terrific summer of improvement, the now-senior won both the 55-meter (6.79) and the 300 (36.36). The Panthers were then able to celebrate wins from Grayden Wright in the 600 (1:35.36), Aivyn Privitera in the hurdles (8.78) and Holden Choma in the high jump (5-8).