Boys track hurdles over competition in league championship

May 16, 2017

It might be Boys Coach Jennifer Mulcare-Sullivan’s first year with the track team, but that didn’t stop the Indians from securing the Old Colony League title.

The boys earned 61 points in the May 15 league championship meet, edging out rivals Barnstable (53 points) and Bridgewater-Raynham (42 points) for the Old Colony League title. In the girls competition, the team came in second place with 43 points.

The event included first-place finishes by Isaac Sequeira in the 400-meter hurdles and Mac Lynch in the two-mile run, Indian representation in the top four slots of the shot put, Max Szteliga’s first-place finish in the javelin throw, and Connor Moniz’s first-place win in discus.

Mulcare-Sullivan anticipated a stronger win, but several events were cancelled due to the weather.

“It was very close, but we didn’t have two jump events due to the rain. It was like soup out there,” Mulcare-Sullivan said.

Despite those weather issues, which have affected events for the past few weeks, her team is ending the season strong.

“They really work well together,” Mulcare-Sullivan said. “We have a lot of versatile athletes. They can throw. They can jump. They can run, and they can go back-and-forth.”

The boys won’t get much rest time, as the Indians take on Durfee on May 18 for the final regular season meet. After that, the boys have an invitational meet on May 20, and the division meet on May 27.

Those extra meets should give Mulcare-Sullivan a chance to qualify as many athletes as possible for the All-State Meet, scheduled for June 3. Nine athletes in total already qualify, and an additional four to five athletes are on the verge of qualifying, Mulcare-Sullivan said.

Coach Caitlin McCarron-Deely was not surprised by the girls second-place finish. She’s had her sights on improving team performance.

“I’m looking for strong performance in individual events and to get as many [personal records] as possible,” McCarron-Deely said before the meet.

Senior Maddie Lynch finished in first place in the one-mile run. She’s already qualified for the All-State Meet for the third year in her three-year track career. As the season winds down, she’s seen a close bond form between her teammates.

“We’re really close this season. We’ve really formed a bond,” Lynch said, who was inspired to pursue running by her parents, who are avid runners. Lynch is anticipating tough competition in upcoming events.

“It’s just very high-level in competition,” Lynch said. “The people around you push you to do the best you can.”

The May 15 competition included a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash by sophomore Charlotte Correiro. Running has always been her hobby, so she chose spring track as her third sport. She also plays soccer in the fall and is on the winter track team. This is her first season running in the 400-meter dash.

“It’s going well for me as I’m constantly improving this season,” Correiro said.

Other highlights include Victoria LaBree's second-place finish in the 100-meter dash and a third-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles; Coral Perry's first-place finish and Lillian Carroll's third-place finish in the 200-meter dash; Maddie Lynch's second-place finish in the one-mile run; Emma Sousa's second-place finish in the two-mile run; Beatriz Mazo’s third-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles; and Coral Perry’s third place in the long jump.