Sometimes young athletes can produce unexpected performances. Sometimes they even lead teams to newfound heights.
Lexington relied on its underclassmen for support Wednesday, and was rewarded with the best prize of all – a state championship. Freshman Amelia Whorton finished a double winner, placing first overall in the girls mile (4:59.46) as she and her teammates captured the Div. 1 girls indoor track and field title with an epic performance at the Reggie Lewis Center.
“We are at a different level this year with the younger girls that have come in,” said Lexington girls track coach Rebecca Trachsel. “The team is tighter and closer than it’s ever been. I think everybody had this one goal in mind this season. From December, this is what we’ve all been working for, the whole team. When we got to this week, they were ready to perform.”
Lexington accrued 84.87points on its way to clinching the crown, outpacing runner-up Newton North by 24.13 in the standings. In addition to her victory in the mile, Whorton also teamed up with Callie Glenn, Mackenzie Callahan and Cecilia Kvaal for a win in the 4×800-meter relay (9:30.60). Whorton’s classmate, Jane Conrad, aided Lexington to another first place finish in the two mile (11:18.17).
It was the perfect present for Trachsel, who was celebrating her birthday. Whorton, Conrad and the rest of her squad serenaded her in song during the final celebrations.
“We knew about this for a while,” said Whorton. “We were just really pushing to win it for her.”
In a heated championship that came down to the final two events, Lowell was able to capture its latest Div. 1 boys title, finishing with 69 points.
The Red Raiders won two critical events during the final two relays. In the 4×800, Jovani Ubri, Raymond Dafe, Alex Rodgers and Abdul Jalloh combined for a first-place time of 8:03.11. Then Denzel Kisekka, Ethan Thevenin, Jalloh and Dafe captured first in the 4×400 to conclude the night with a meet-record time of 3:23.61. The late sequence was critical, as the two performances sealed the sixth championship for the program.
“We have a great group of seniors,” said Lowell boys track coach Nicholas McArdle. “They all led the way. It’s been our goal since the beginning of the season to come here and try to win this meet. The boys pulled it off today, and it was great to see.”
Wednesday’s meet also featured some historic individual performances, particularly in the 55-meter hurdles events. Natick standout Emmanuella Edozien shattered the state’s record in the girls competition (7.96), topping the prior feat set in 2013 by Vanessa Clerveaux of Brockton. Meanwhile, Brockton’s Lucas Andrade did the same in the boys race (7.30), besting the original mark set by Needham’s Davonte Burnett in 2018.
Newton North star Reese Connors eclipsed a new barrier in the boys 300, breaking the state’s record with a time of 33.94 ticks.
BC High’s Shamus Larnard finished a double winner during the night, winning the boys mile (4:14.14) and two mile (9:15.42) races.