It was a banner year in the Northeastern Conference for both the Gloucester girls and boys outdoor track teams this spring.
The Fishermen captured the NEC Lynch Division crown on both sides, with each team going unbeaten at 4-0 in league meets. They did it with depth and talent in multiple events, a reality that was even more evident following the release of the NEC’s annual all-star awards.
While no Gloucester track athlete was honored as a member of the All-Conference team, six were dubbed NEC all-stars for their strong campaigns.
On the boys side, senior Sam Heanue, junior Jeferson Do Carmo and sophomore Seamus Linehan were honored. And on the girls side it was senior captains Megan Hurd and Aili Spencer, as well as junior Cia Donohoe who took home the award.
Heanue specialized in a multitude of events this season, including throws, jumps and sprints. Do Carmo shined in the mid-distance events, jumps and relays, while Linehan did a bit of everything as well, including sprints, hurdles, jumps and relays.
For the girls, Spencer starred across the board, most notably in the long jump, an event in which she recently took home a Division 4 state championship in. Hurd was a jumper and sprinter, while also competing on relay teams, and Donohoe was a strong mid-distance runner, hurdler and jumper.
Male Athlete of the Year honors went to Peabody’s nationally ranked shot put and discus ace Alex Jackson, while his coach, Fernando Braz, earned Coach of the Year honors. For the girls, Peabody’s Alessandra Forgione, who throws both the discus and javelin, was tabbed Female Athlete of the Year while Saugus’ Joe Alba was named Coach of the Year. Masconomet (boys) and Swampscott (girls) grabbed the Sportsmanship Awards.
The complete list of All-Conference awards went as follows:
BOYS
Masconomet saw five of its athletes chosen. They were Arbri Halilaj (100 dash, 11.13), Tim Lull (400, 49.97), Adam Staffier (400 hurdles, 56.82), Adam Toleos (javelin, 152 feet 3 inches), and the 4×400 relay of Lull, Edward Keifer, Nicco Cefalo and Staffier (3:39.69).
Close behind was Marblehead with four All-Conference selections, all in the distances: Jacob Szalewicz (800, 1:55.60), Will Cerrutti (mile, 4:27.94), Nate Assa (2-mile, 9:13.36) and the 4×800 relay of Cerrutti, Henrik Adams, Assa and Szalewicz (8:16.32).
Danvers was represented on the All-Conference team by Luca Tirella (high jump, 6 feet) and the sprint relay team of Owen Shanbar, Josh Downey, Zachary Dunn and Randall Martin (44.23). Swampscott’s Noah Bascon was also an All-NEC pick (long jump, 20 feet 11 inches), as was Winthrop’s Nicholas Cappuccio (200, 22.41).
GIRLS
Marblehead saw Paige Tredwell honored as All-Conference in the 110 hurdles (15.68), as well as its 4×800 relay team of Norah Walsh, Marion Grace Ladouceur, Marri O’Connell and Geneva Becker (10:42.47).
Beverly claimed three All-Northeastern Conference spots of its own. They came from Lily Judge (400 hurdles, 1:08.89), Reese Kwiatek (javelin) and the Panthers’ 4×100 relay of Jane Cosmas, Samantha Hayward, Olivia Anketell and Infinity Burns (52.04).
Three standouts from Masconomet earned All-Conference nods in Amanda Schneider (400, 1:00.73), Savannah Stevens (800, 2:22.29) and Mara Siewko (long jump, 17 feet 10 inches).
Tess Ryan of Danvers was All-Conference as well in the 200, as was Swampscott’s Annabelle Everett in the mile (5:27.15). Her Big Blue were also given the Team Sportsmanship Award.
Saugus’ Soraya Mathieu was All-Conference in the 100 (12.68) and also captured the 200 at the NEC Championship Meet (25.85); Sachems teammate Destiny Okeye was another All-NEC pick in the high jump (5 feet 2 inches).
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NEC ALL-STARS
The following athletes, listed alphabetically by school, were chosen as NEC all-stars for the spring track season:
Beverly: Evan Wong, Grace Galbreath.
Danvers: Will Conklin, Grace Conklin.
Marblehead: Noah Jackson, Marri O’Connell, Lucy Flynn, Sarah Munroe.
Masconomet: Hunter Rossi, Finn Eberhardt, Piper Testa.
Peabody: Mohamed Lhassouani, Omar Mishal, Delcan Smith, Jane Haight, Kayley Bunn, Avery Marcus.
Salem: Brooks Workman, Madyson Eichel.
Swampscott: Simon Brown, Amthony Colella, Collette Heil, Kassidi Francis.
Gloucester: Samuel Heanue, Jeferson Do Carmo, Seamus Linehan, Megan Hurd, Ali Spencer, Cia Donohue.
Saugus: Kaeleb Mathieu, Peyton DiBiaso.
Winthrop: Thomas D’Amico, Hailey DeMarco.