Every single point in a track meet matters — look no further than Thursday night’s Division 2 state championship meet at Reggie Lewis Center to see why.
Peabody High’s boys were a single point away from their first state title in nearly four decades, but were edged out by Algonquin by the closest of margins. The Tanners finished with 42 points to Algonquin’s 43.
A third consecutive indoor divisional state title by Alex Jackson, who broke his own meet record in the shot put at 61-feet-3-inches was a big reason Peabody was in the mix. Areno Saint Victory had a personal best by over three feet to finish second at 52-8 3/4, giving the weight team 18 points (more than 15 other entire teams notched).
The Tanners also scored multiple points in the 1000, where Declan Smith placed third in 2:32.85 and Mohammed Lhassouani was sixth in 2:38.94. Senior Evan Bedard earned silver in the long jump with a leap of 22-feet-6 3/4-inches with Juan Rivera adding to the point total in seventh at 20-4 3/4.
A fifth place showing by the 4×200 relay team of Michael Murphy, Omar Mishal, Ty Rappold and Henry Sawyer (1:33.06) put Peabody within one point of the team standings lead going into the final event. The 4×400 relay of Smith, Mishal, Lhassouani and Stevens placed eighth (3:35.18), just 0.32 seconds off the point that would’ve tied them for the state title.
A pair of silver medalists led Peabody’s girls to sixth place showing with 26 team points. Alessandra Forgione beat her previous best by over a foot to finish second in the shot put (38-feet-5 3/4-inches) and Makayla Kokozenis was second in the high jump (5-feet).
The 4×200 relay of Kokozenis, Tamara Kemigisha, Ava Champigny and Maya Sutton placed sixth (1:50.75) and freshman Lauren Foley scored a fourth place in the 600 (1:40.59). The 4×400 of Foley, Champigny, Avery Marcus and Sutton earned seventh in 4:18.78.
Essex Tech’s extraordinary sprinter Nora Kiesel medaled in two events, setting a new school record and placing third in the dash (7.40) seconds while also coming in fourth in the 300 (42.27). Delaney Dunn also placed in the 300, running 42.77 for seventh place.
Beverly saw several athletes climb the podium to score 30 points and and eighth place showing. Jason Provost ran what coach Sean Dunleaby called the best race of his career and grabbed second place in the 2-mile with a time of 9:43.51. The Panthers earned another silver medal in the 4×200 relay as Xavier Auk, Evan Wong, Ray Kwiatek and Floyd White combined for 1:32.43.
Evan Wong earned fifth in the 600 (1:24.97) while coming in seventh place were Charlie Bossler (mile, 4:33) and Charlie Salerno (high jump 5-foot-8). Wong, Bossler, Harry Stanton and Kwiatek then earned third in the 4×400 relay (3:29).
Grace Galbreath led the Panther girls by placing fourth in the hurdles (9 seconds flat) and also 12 in the long jump. Gabbi Wickeri picked up eighth in the shot put (31-feet-5 1/4-inches) and Grace Williams was eighth in the 600 (1:42.61). Lily Judge also grabbed eighth in the high jump, clearing 4-foot-10.