Not only one of best at what he does locally or statewide but also nationally, Alex Jackson of Peabody showcased the throwing skills that have earned him a scholarship to the University of Virginia at this weekend’s MIAA Meet of Champions.
The multi-time All-American capped off in-state competitive track career by winning his 15th and 16th career state championships and breaking two meet records in the process. Jackson’s throw of 187-feet-6-inches was good for first place and broke the meet record (in fact, two of his throws were better than the previous all-time best).
Then the 6-foot-5, 280-pounder doubled up his trips to the top of the podium by also winning the shot put, throwing the 12-pound metal ball 62 feet 5 1/4 inches for another new Meet of Champions all-time best.
Fellow Peabody High senior Alessandra Forgione joined him as a first place finisher. Her winning toss of 143 feet 6 inches in the girls javelin was not only the top distance in Massachusetts this year, but also 39th best nationally.
Areno Saint-Victor added a ninth place showing in the discus (156 feet) for Peabody and a 21st in the shot put (46-6). The Tanners also had three 14th place finishes from Madison Holleran (discus, 102 feet), Omar Mishal (400 hurdles, 57.21) and their 4×400 relay team of Henry Sawyer, Brian Stevens, Mishal and Dorlyn Morel (3:24.99). In addition, Makayla Kokonezis placed 20th in the triple jump (34 feet 1 1/2 inches).
Superstar distance runner Nate Assa of Marblehead finished ahead of the pack in the boys 2-mile, as the Magicians’ senior captain blazed his way to victory with a time of 9 minutes 14.52 seconds.
Assa also reached a personal best time in the mile, taking fifth place in 4:13.55. That was good enough for the seventh-best mile time in the state this spring. Teammate Will Cerrutti (4:26.52) placed 22nd in the same event.
Maura Siewko, a the sophomore standout from Masconomet claimed six top 8 finishes in the various pentathlon events and came in third place in the event with 3,234 points. She won the pentathlon long jump (18 feet 3/4 inches) while taking second in the girls outdoor pentathlon high jump (1.55 meters, or 5 feet 8 1/2 inches). A third place showing in the girls outdoor pentathlon 800 meters (2:29.87), a fifth in the 100 hurdles (15.81), and eighth place in both the long jump (17-5 1/2) and girls outdoor pentathlon shot put (8.32 meters, or 27 feet 3 inches) concluded a marvelous showing for the Chieftains’ multi-talented star.
Masconomet’s 4×400 relay team of Tim Lull, Tyson Arnold, Arbri Halilaj and Adam Staffier earned a seventh place finish (3:23.61) in another fine effort. Adam Toleos was 12th overall in the javelin (158-3); Lull placed 16th in the boys 400 (49:85) while Piper Testa claimed 18th in the girls 400 (1:00.99), and Staffier crossed the finish line 22nd in the 400 hurdles (58.25).
The top finish for St. John’s Prep was its 4×400 relay of Caden Rogovich, Doug Clement, Noah Kabel and Daniel Padley (3:18.50), earning second place accolades. Ahmir Hykel was fourth in the 100 (10.76), as was Kyle McClory in the javelin (182-4); Andrew Bertucci (9th) and Tyson Stroope (11th) both high jumped 6-4; Anthony Ragosa (10th, 50-10 1/2), Gael Garcia (11th, 50-7 3/4) and Ethan Caulfield (22nd, 44-5 1/2) all threw the shot put well; Kabel took 11th in the 400 hurdles (56:13), Padley was 18th in the 800 (1:58.60) and Henry McDonnell claimed 26th in the mile (4:34.50).
Georgia Wilson had herself a day for Hamilton-Wenham. After setting a new personal best in the 100 hurdles by winning the event (14.31 seconds, the third-best in the state this spring), she ended up finishing fourth in the finals with a time of 14.48. Wilson also secured a fifth place finish in the triple jump in 37 feet 10 inches, a leap that was the seventh-best in the Commonwealth this season.
Ben Rich took 12th place in the 2-mile (9:41.24) for the Generals and PR’d in the mile (4:19.69, 21st best in the state this year), good for 14th overall.
Kameya Perron reached the podium for Ipswich after finishing in fifth place in the girls pole vault. Her throw of 10 feet 6 inches qualified the junior for New England next weekend. Tiger teammate Alana Novello, a sophomore, placed 15th in the 400 hurdles (1:07.01).
Junior Luca Tirella had a 12th place high jump leap of 6-2 while senior Will Conklin finished 14th in the 2-mile (9:42.22) to lead Danvers.
The Essex Tech 4×100 relay team of Jasmyn Mejia, Norah Keisel, Nyla Palmer and Delaney Dunn crossed the finish line in 50.67, good for 12th place.
Annabel Everett of Swampscott was 19th in the mile (5:08.47) and 23rd in the 2-mile (11:38.27).