Massachusetts State Meet Preview
by Jake Klim
11/15/99 -- It was 8 degrees outside 3 years ago this
Saturday when I woke up in a cold motel room
before the 1996 Massachusetts All State Meet. The
temperature warmed to a still frigid 12 degrees
by race time. Warmups were complete, stretching
was finished and pants and jackets were in a pile
behind the starting line, then crack. Your heart
stopped pounding, but only for a moment, as you
strided up and over the first bump towards the
dreaded Northfield hills. Up and down, up and
down, like a roller coaster over frozen soil.
Runners past by and you passed runners, clad in
spandex, gloves, wool hats and long sleeve
shirts. My legs were stung with polar air as my
fingers ached within my gloves with incredible
pain. Then came the long steady downhill, the
easiest sub 5 minute mile in my life, and finally
the 300+ meter finish. Then it was over, it hurt.
"We should have done more hills", but it was too
late, the race was over.
DIVISION ONE:
Seventeen minutes of pain, that is what
Northfield is (Although back on that below
freezing morning Jonathon Riley was able to run
the race closer to 15 minutes). This year look
for Tristan Colangelo, a veteran of that bone
chilling day to take control of things and guide
his team to yet another state championship. Thats
right, Gloucester over St. Johns (S). I did the
stats, it will all come down to the 5th man, but
I think that Gloucester will once again be able
to pull it off. As for Colangelo, expect him to
run in the 15:40s, well off Rileys course record
of 15:12, but indeed a respectable time.
Colangelo is going to have to take it out hard
and run the mountain to his knees. His kick
should guide him to a superfast last mile and a
supersonic last 300 meters. Matt Emond of
Marshfield may be the only other harrier who will
be able to sneak under the impressive 16 minute
barrier. Emond was right on Colangelo's heels
last Saturday, before overcoming to the
Fisherman's lethal kick. If the tide is right
look for Emond to even dip below the 15:50 mark.
Newcomers Byron Gartrell and Jonathon Drappi will
both be battling for that third place spot, but I
think that Gartrell's footspeed will prevail to
Drappi's natural talent. Jarrod Schumaker may
also sneak into that third slot, his 15:50 at the
Class B meet was the third fastest of the day.
North Quincy's Jeff Bartoloni and Joshes Barshard
of Somerville and Palazola of Gloucester will
battle it out for 6th, while Sophomore sensation
Todd Glew and Westerner James Lemoureaux will
round out the top 10. All will be under or around
16:30.
1. T. Colangelo-Gloucester
2. M. Emond-Marshfield
3. B. Gartrell-BC High
4. J. Drappi-SJS
5. J. Schumaker-Lincoln/Sudbury
6. J. Barshard-Somerville
7. J. Bartoloni-N. Quincy
8. J. Palazola-Gloucester
9. T. Glew-SJ Pep
10. J. Lemoureux-Cathedral
11. M. Ahearn-SJS
12. S. Martella-SJS
13 J. Snair-Doherty
14. D. O'Grady-Whitman/Hanson
15. S. Milne-Gloucester
16. A. Wood-Tantasqua
17. J. Jacobson-Taunton
18. B. Griffin-Central Catholic
19. P. Cahalane-Andover
20. E. Smith-Gloucester
21. T. Creedon-Wachusett
22. B. Markey-Cathedral
23. F. Gibbs-Lawrence
24. E. Fiedler-Minnechaug
25. J. Sullivan-Wachusett
1. Gloucester-Give or take 70 points
2. St Johns (S)-" "85 points
3. St Johns Prep
4. Wachusett
5. Brookline
DIVISION 2:
A slower, but very competitive race between
Mohawk, King Philip (KP) and Oliver Ames (OA),
with Mohawk coming through in the end. Mike
DeCoste of Duxbury looks to be the favorite over
Rob Santoro of OA, but watch out for Neil Graves
who leads a hungry Mohawk squad. A time in the
16:20s should win this race.
1. M. DeCoste-Duxbury
2. R. Santoro-OA
3. N. Graves-Mohawk
4. J. Gilman-Murdock
5. N. Brown-Wellesley
6. A. Afrarian-KP
7. G. Atkinson-Norwell
8. M. Pimentel-Austin Prep
9. R. Welch-Seekonk
10. J. Engbers-Whitinsville Ch
11. A. Paicos-OA
12. E. Hallquist-Murdock
13. J. Brown-Saugus
14. B. Dragon-Hoosac Valley
15. W. Stanley-Mansfield
16. D. Burnham-Mohawk
17. D. Scott-Rockland
18. M. Riffin-Weston
19. M. Fraioli-Auburn
20. P. Ward-Bishop Feehan
21. S. Rydbeckk-Hamilton/Wenham
22. S. Cellupia-Hopkinton
23. S. Mckron-Millbury
24. R. Kearney-Tyngsboro
25. R. Duffy-Stoneham
1. Mohawk
2. OA
3. KP
4. Seekonk
5. Whitinsville Ch
Good Luck to all this Saturday
Jake Klim [email protected]
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