Veteran Greater Lawrence Tech football and track coach Tony Sarkis had no idea what to expect two year ago, when Elizardo Melenciano arrived in West Andover.
“Elizardo came in and was a tall, lanky, goofy kid,” said Sarkis with a laugh. “But he always had a smile on his face, was humble and worked hard. Now, he’s accomplishing things we haven’t seed at Greater Lawrence track in years, definitely not in my time as a head coach.”
Now a junior, Melenciano has been nothing short of dominant this winter.
On Sunday, Melenciano delivered a brilliant, three-victory day at the Commonwealth Conference Championship — winning the 300-meter (36.70), the 55-meter hurdles (7.98) and the high jump (5-10). He won meet MVP, leading the Reggies to a second-place finish as a team. He also qualified for Division 4 states in all three events.
“The success that I’ve had throughout the season has been great,” he said. “Winning all three events at the (CAC) Championship meant everything to me. Without the motivation to succeed then you won’t succeed, and I was motivated to win three events. It’s been great.”
Melenciano’s score didn’t just dominate the CAC, they are among the best in The Eagle-Tribune area this winter. He currently ranks fourth in the region in the 55 hurdles, No. 5 in the 300 and tied for fifth in the area in the high jump (5-10) — all from the CAC Championship.
He also led Greater Lawrence to a 7-0 record and the CAC regular season title.
“This season has already been amazing,” he said. “I never thought I would become a track standout, being in the division I am (Division 4) and seeing all of the other track stars on social media. They really had me thinking I wasn’t all that. But this is a lesson to never think like that again.”
Like so many athletes, it was another sport — or more specifically the loss of another sport — that led Melenciano to track.
“I first tried track in my freshman year,” he said. “I originally played basketball, but when I didn’t make the team, track was the only other way for me to stay in shape. By the time I ran my first event I realized this was the sport for me.
“I really realized I could really excel in track during my freshman outdoor season, where I almost made states. I realized It’s all about consistency. All of the workouts and drills get easy after a while, but the hard part is doing it every day.”
Melenciano made Division 4 states for the first time last winter, in the 300, when he finished second at CACs (37.70) and 14th at Division 4s (37.42). In the spring, he qualified for Massachusetts Meet of Champions in the 110-meter hurdles (15.44 PR) and 400-meter hurdles (58.50 PR) and made Division 4s in the long jump (40-11.5).
“My favorite event would probably be the 110/55-meter hurdles,” he said. “The feeling of gliding over the hurdles is unbeatable. My success in both the hurdles and 300 is all thanks to my coaches and teammates who support me and challenge me in a multitude of ways.
“This was my first season doing high jump. My coach was definitely a key point in my success in this event.”
He now has a couple of big goals to accomplish before spring season.
“My goal for the rest of this season is to qualify for nationals in the 55 hurdles and 300,” he said. “I just have to keep working.”
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