CHS track teams impress at Hock Championships
By Mike BergerDespite heavy downpours and high winds, a resilient group of CHS outdoor track athletes competed well at the Hockomock League Championships held Saturday at Milford High School.
The girls team placed fifth out of 12 league schools and the boys finished 12th but had several solid individual performances.
“Our championship season is off to a great start,” noted head girls coach Anna Amico. “Our athletes’ hard work was on full display. I am proud of how our athletes competed in tough weather conditions.”
The Canton girls were led by senior captain Katie Oliver, who finished the day as a double league champion, breaking 18 feet in the long jump for the first time with a best mark of 18’1.5” and topping the field in the triple jump with a distance of 36’9”.
Oliver also picked up a second-place medal as a member of the 4×100 relay team along with Chloe Dubuisson, Diana Tambi and Grace Martinek. Canton’s two other top relays also had impressive showings with a fourth-place finish in the 4×400 (Lily Duong, Emma Duong, Lianna Camille, Dubuisson) and a sixth-place finish in the 4×800 (Maddie Driscoll, Athena To, Isabella Holland, Nishka Baduamanda).
Other medal winners for the girls team included Dubuisson, who placed third in the 400-meter hurdles; Camille, who took fourth in both the 400m and triple jump; Fatima Sidibay, who finished seventh in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 30’9.25”; Driscoll, who took eighth and set a new PR in the two-mile (12:45.06); and Jayda Proffitt, who placed eighth in the 100-meter hurdles.
Amico said several team members also recorded personal bests at the meet despite the tough weather conditions, including Natalia Mallei and Gisella Berardi in the 400m, Sofia Anastasiou in the 800m, Libby Silvasy and Charlotte Campbell in the mile, Sidibay in both the shot put and discus, and Melanie McDonough in the long jump.
On the boys’ side, senior Mo Arugollu continued his impressive season, placing fifth in both the 400 hurdles (62.47 seconds) and as part of the 4×400 relay along with fellow seniors Dan Krasylnykov and Parker Allen and sophomore Dalton Wong.
Krasylnykov also made it onto the podium with an eighth-place finish in the 400-meter race with a time of 53.21 seconds, while Luke Darling took 10th overall in the 800m (2:10).
Several Bulldogs also posted career-best marks at the league meet, including Riley Swearingen and Tyler Baird in the two-mile; Derrick McCruse in the javelin; Allen and Declan Monahan in the 400m; freshman Nick Murphy in the 800m; Casey Lee and John Martinek in the triple jump.
“I am beyond proud of how we performed even in the tough conditions,” said boys head coach Brian Gotsell. “Our team is young, and the future is bright for the Bulldogs.”
On Thursday and Saturday, both CHS outdoor track teams will travel to Westfield State University to compete in the MIAA Division 4 Championships. Canton qualifiers on the boys’ side include Arugollu, Krasylnykov, Kareem Chaplin, JJ Faulk, Christian Hanlon, Mark McDonough, Zach Sanon, and all three relays. On the girls team, qualifiers include Camille, Oliver, Proffitt, Tambi, and Sally Hoban, who are all slated to compete in multiple events, as well as Driscoll, Dubuisson, Martinek, Sidibay, Zoe Scibelli, and all three relays.
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