Charlotte Beaudoin knew she had made history when she crossed the finish line in the 400 on Saturday.
The Timberlane senior didn’t know how major that history was.
“Seeing 55.14 was crazy,” she said. “I knew it was a school record, then finding out it was a state record made it even better. And to do that in my last high school meet was incredible.”
Beaudoin repeated as 400-meter champ at New Hampshire Meet of Champions, breaking the state record (55.42 by Concord’s Grace Devanny in 2019) and topping her own one-week-old Eagle-Tribune area record of 56.72 set at the D-II Championship, when she shattered the mark of 56.79 by Katie Dlesk of Phillips Academy and Andover set way back in 2002.
She followed that up by winning the 200-meter in a PR 24.92, the second fastest time in Eagle-Tribune area history, trailing just Delia Barbanti’s 24.85 (2018).
“I was really locked in and just trying to take advantage of finally having good weather,” said the SNHU track recruit. “I’ve been chasing the New Balance Nationals time all season. Then to come back and win the 200 with another PR was a really good way to end it.”
Teammate and close friend Danielle Bates also added a pair of gold medals, earning her third straight high jump title (5-8, second in area history), and adding the triple jump crown (36-11).
“It’s amazing to win high jump three years in a row,” she said. “I was glad to jump 5-8 because it makes me confident going into next week (New Englands) sky-high. And winning triple jump was a huge moment, not just for me, but for my coaches who knew I could do it all along. I ran straight over from the high jump and on my first jump I PR’d by over a foot!”
Andover’s Tuohy scores title
The defining moment of Millie Tuohy‘s young track career remains a blur.
But the celebration — that was unforgettable.
“Going into the (deciding) jump, I tried to clear my head and focus solely on executing to the best of my ability,” she said. “I don’t remember going over the bar, but seeing it still up after hitting the mat was an incredibly happy moment for me.”
The Andover High sophomore sailed over the bar for a career-best jump of 5-6, earning her the high jump title at the Massachusetts Meet of Champions on Saturday at Merrimack College.
“I’m incredibly passionate about high jump, so being able to succeed in something I care so much about is incredible,” she said. “My original goal heading into the spring was simply to jump 5-2. I had no idea I would win Meet of Champions!”
Tuohy’s jump snapped her previous PR of 5-4, which she hit three times this spring, and bested Tewksbury’s Savannah Jansson, who also hit 5-6 but needed more tries to do so.
“This meet was the most important so far in my career,” said Tuohy, who is now tied for ninth in area history. “So I am overjoyed that I was able to deliver despite the high-stakes environment.”
Dominant day for Pinkerton boys
If there was, somehow, any questions who the ruling power in Granite State boys track is, it was definitively answered on Saturday.
Pinkerton took home five individual titles and won a pair of relays in a dominant day at Oyster River.
Leading the charge was Winston George, who won the 100-meter (10.85), 200-meter (21.82) and led the winning 4×100 relay.
“It felt so good to win both, with all the training and preparation it took,” said George. “Each race played out exactly how I expected, and winning sends my confidence through the roof.”
Joe Gustavson won the 800 (1:52.23) and led the winning 4×400 relay (3:21.05) that broke the one-year old state record (3:21.18).
“Winning Meet Of Champions and being state champion means a lot, considering this is my first year running outdoor track,” said the Eagle-Tribune indoor track All-Star. “I was the top seed, and I knew it was going to be a tough race. And in the 4×4, we knew that we had to run our fastest to have a shot at winning and getting the state record. In the end we all pulled through and got both!”
Other Astros wins went to Jason Robie in the 1,600 (4:14.61) and John Child in the 110-meter hurdles (14.55).
“There were a lot of talented runners in the field, and I knew it was going to come down to who could close the best,” said Robie. “Being able to find another gear at the end and come away with the win is really rewarding.”
Central relay does it again
Central Catholic’s girls 4×400 relay was once again in dominant form, winning the Meet of Champions title in 3:54.46.
The team of Kyla Breslin, Emma Finch, Leighton Hickey and Avery Strickler also teamed to win the Meet of Champions and New England titles indoors this winter.
“To lower our (school) record again and see all the progress we’ve made since indoor season feels so rewarding,” said Finch. “We were barely breaking 4:00 indoors, and now we’re running 3:54! It’s incredible to look back and see how far we’ve come through all the hard work and dedication. I definitely think we can lower our time even more.”
Quarm places second, Varela takes third
The result may not have been exactly what Methuen’s Lauren Quarm had hoped for, but the fastest female in area history was far from hanging her head after placing second in the 100-meter in a season-best 11.84.
“I’m really proud of how I performed,” said the Kansas track recruit. “I had a strong block start and finished hard. Overall I think it’s the best race I’ve run so far this season.”
Greater Lawrence Tech’s multi-sport Gustavo Varela added a solid third-place finish in the boys dash in a personal record 10.75.
“It was a great showing,” said the Assumption College football/track recruit. “I’m very proud of myself for rising up to the competition and finishing. Finishing higher than what you were projected for is always a great thing. I’m very happy.”
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