By Dan Guttenplan
BOSTON — The Newburyport boys track program continued its school year of titles yesterday by capturing a Cape Ann League Open Division 2 title.
The Clippers bested CAL Division 2 regular-season champion Hamilton-Wenham, placing second overall (61 points) behind CAL Division 1 champion North Andover (74 points) at the Reggie Lewis Center. The Newburyport boys cross country team also captured CAL titles last fall, parlaying a perfect regular season into a CAL Open title.
For the second year in a row, the Newburyport boys entered the final event of CAL Open with an outside chance of capturing the overall team title. The Clippers again trailed North Andover by three points entering the 4x400 relay, meaning the Clippers would have to finish two places ahead of the Scarlet Knights. For the second year in a row, the Clippers' 4x400 relay team was disqualified.
Last night, the penalty was not substantial for the Clippers, as the disqualification from the event did not affect the overall standings. After Newburyport's third runner was flagged by an official for stepping out of the designated area for hand-offs, North Andover won the race and Newburyport finished third. Hamilton Wenham's relay improved its position thanks to the Newburyport disqualification, placing fifth instead of sixth. Still, the Generals finished the meet one point behind the Clippers.
"This time, we held on for second place," said Newburyport coach Tim Foley, who was named CAL Division 2 Boys Coach of the Year. "And we won the division, so we'll take it. I thought it would be close for the division; it always is with Hamilton-Wenham. We figured we'd throw everything we had at North Andover, and it was a great meet."
The Triton girls team collected a surprising third-place finish, benefitting from Deanna Latham's two individual titles. The senior, who was also named CAL Division 1 Co-Athlete of the Year along with Pentucket's Alanna Poretta, placed first in the 55-meter dash (7.38) and high jump (5-0). Triton senior Erin Loughlin also placed first in the 600 (1:42.05). Poretta, running for a Sachems team that finished fourth after a 9-1 season, took home first place in the mile (5:09.30).
Triton girls coach Jim Hounam was satisfied with his team's performance in the championship meet after a 4-5-1 regular season.
"We figured we'd finish in the middle of the pack," Hounam said. "Third was better than I thought we'd do."
Pentucket coach Steve Derro, whose team took home the Sportsmanship Award for CAL Division 1, had 18 of his 38 athletes qualify for the open meet.
"We finished 9-1 in the regular season, and that shows that we needed all 38 kids to compete in a varsity meet," Derro said. "(Eighteen) kids is the most we've had here in as long as I can remember."
Triton's boys team, which received the CAL Division 1 Sportsmanship Award, placed fifth overall. It was the third consecutive indoor season in which the Triton boys received the league's sportsmanship award.
"That, to me, means more than anything," Triton coach Joe Colbert said. "I ask my guys to conduct themselves like gentlemen. The always carry themselves with class. It's an honor because the coaches of the league vote on this."
Newburyport's girls team placed sixth overall with the highlight coming from the school-record setting, CAL champion 4x400 relay team (4:15.82). Newburyport's relay beat second-place Triton by 1.5 seconds.
Amesbury's girls team had its best finish in the last five years, according to coach Ernie Bissaillon, placing seventh with 24 points. Amesbury's Megan Cullen set a school record en route to her second-place finish in the 300 (42.62). CAL Division 2 Athlete of the Year Rebecca Crochiere finished second in the 1,000 (3:11.51). Amesbury's boys team placed ninth with nine points.
"Our program continues to improve," said Bissaillon, who was named CAL Division 2 Girls Coach of the Year. "Now it's time to get ready for Class B's."
CAL Open Top-Three Finishes
Champions
Name, schoolEventTime
Deanna Latham, Triton55-meter dash, high jump7.38, 5-0
Erin Loughlin, Triton6001:42.05
Alanna Poretta, PentucketMile5:09.30
Newburyport girls team4x400 relay4:15.82
Second place
Mark Bajko, Newburyport55-meter hurdles8.20
Taylor Burl, Newburyport55-meter hurdles8.94
Kyle LeBlanc, Newburyport55-meter dash6.57
Newburyport boys team4x800 relay8:44.58
Pentucket girls team4x800 relay10:26.97
Megan Cullen, Amesbury30042.62
John Stansel, Newburyport6001:24.53
Rebecca Crochiere, Amesbury1,0003:11.51
Newburyport boys team4x200 relay1:36.99
Pentucket girls team4x200 relay1:51.95
Triton boys team4x400 relay3:43.88
Triton girls team4x400 relay4:17.37
Breanna Yocum, PentucketHigh jump5-0
Mike McIntyre, AmesburyShot put43-33âÑ4
Melissa Derrico, NewburyportShot put33-91âÑ4
Third place
Steve Bajko, Newburyport55-meter hurdles8.21
Taelour Murphy, Triton55-meter dash7.72
Jared White, Triton30037.90
Greg Englehart, NewburyportMile4:37.46
Amesbury girls team4x400 relay4:18.18
Sean Carey, NewburyportShot put42-5
