It was an all-out assault on our Eagle-Tribune area record books in another historic spring on the track in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
In all, six local records — both new and old — fell this season, while a few other marks were strongly tested.
From the time she emerged as a star her sophomore season, Haverhill’s Maddie Goncalves appeared destined to one day break the area record in the shot put that was set before she was born, in 2003. The senior did exactly that this spring, unleashing a throw of 44-2. That bested the previous region mark of 43-3.5 by Timberlane alum Jess Cegarra.
With another year still left in her high school track career, Methuen’s Lauren Quarm further solidified herself as the fastest girls sprinter in area history.
Quarm ran a new personal record of 11.73 at Meet of Champions, topping her own Eagle-Tribune area record (11.92) set a year ago. She is now more than half a second ahead of the previous area mark (12.17 by Methuen’s Wileshka Samuel in 2015). She also ran a new PR in the 200 (25.27), less than a second off the area record (24.85).
Pinkerton’s Charlie Franks was advised not to participate at New Balance Nationals after being diagnosed with a torn UCL in his throwing elbow. Instead, he delivered the longest throw in the area since the javelin was re-weighted in 2003. His 201-5 at Nationals shattered former Timberlane star Kyle Faucher’s modern record (196-1 in 2016).
Lawrence’s Argenis Luciano proved his area-record discus throw last year (170-2) was no fluke. He beat his historic mark with a 171-2 at Meet of Champions this spring.
Pelham’s Colby Crear closed out a brilliant career by breaking a record set by one of the region’s all-time great athletes.
Crear set a new area mark in the 300-meter hurdles (38.01), topping the old record set by late Central Catholic legend Niall Murphy (38.21 in 1998). The Python star also finished fourth in area history in the 110 hurdles (14.12).
Injuries and illness may have derailed Phillips Academy star Tam Gavenas’ senior season, but the Andover resident finished with a little history. He broke his own area record in the 2-mile with an 8:53.71 at New Balance Nationals. He also ranks in the top-2 in area history in 800 (1:53.25) and mile (4:08.62).
Lawrence’s Cristian Reinoso was a distance runner for much of his high school career, and didn’t focus on sprints until this spring. He ended up finishing second in area history in the 200-meter with a 21.66 at Meet of Champions. He finished behind just former Lancer star Jordany Volquez (21.18 in 2022). Reinoso’s also fourth in area history in the 400 (48.67).
In her first year running hurdles, Central Catholic junior Arianna DiPietro moved into second all-time in the 100 hurdles (14.32 at Division 1s). She trails just ex-Raider legend and current University of Alabama at Birmingham star Katharine Duren (13.72).
Central Catholic multi-event star Drew Alsup made his biggest mark in the javelin, where his 195-9 at Division 1s ranks him third in modern area history.
Fellow Raider star Suuna Kalemera delivered the third best long jump in area history, with a 23-3.5 at Division 1s. He finished less than two feet off the all-time mark by former Timberlane star Taylor Smith (23-5.25 in 1998).
Haverhill’s Lauren Downer closed out her stellar career at No. 3 all-time in the 800-meter (2:13.80). The only year a local athlete ran the event faster was in 2007 — by future Olympian Kirsten Kasper of North Andover (2:12.56) and Andover great Colleen Shannon (2:13.79).
And many would have called Andover High Hall of Famer Moira Cronin’s local high jump record (5-10 in 2010) a nearly unbreakable mark. But now Timberlane’s Danielle Bates has her eyes set on the height.
Just a sophomore, Bates jumped 5-8 at Meet of Champions, moving into No. 3 all-time in the region. She trails just Cronin and North Andover’s Sarah Lavery (5-8.75 in 2018) for the record with two seasons to go.