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Brad Donahue placed fourth in the 300 and ran on the fourth-place 4x200 team to lift Central to a fifth-place finish in the team standings at the Division 2 state track meet.

“Any time you beat Central in anything in Andover, it’s a big deal,” said Andover track coach Peter Comeau. So yesterday was a big deal times two. Andover won a pair of track showdowns at the Richard Collins Field House by identical 48-38 scores. Both meets came down to the mile relay, the final event. Both likely decided the MVC Large titles. Andover still has a meet left with Lowell. The unbeaten Andover girls will be heavily favored but the winner-take-all boys’ meet could be tight. Yesterday’s meets were tight and the boys’ clash had a dramatic ending. Speedster Pat Farnham had a tough time of it in the 300, settling for second place, and in the relay he was again beat to the break line. And this time there was a collision. “Pat flipped,” explained Comeau. “He rolled over and jumped back up. He was 15 yards behind him then but beat him to the exchange! He’s my nephew, but I wanted to kill him. I had the same expression on my face I did when I was watching the Patriots in the playoffs! After the meet, all the coaches made a point to say most kids would have quit.” But the legendary Farnhams don’t quit. Ryan Cooney ran a terrific third leg and Simon Voorhees cruised home to win 3:41.1 to 3:41.9 to hold off the upset-minded Raiders, who dropped to 3-2-1 overall. Andover (5-0, 3-0 MVC Large) has a talent-laden relay crew with Farnham teaming with Brian Knapp (600), Cooney (1,000) and Voorhees (2-mile), who each won an individual event. The Central girls came in on a high note having won the Division 2 state relays over the weekend. The Raiders were hoping to upset an Andover quartet which ran a 4:05.65 to place second at the Dartmouth Relays. But Andover’s Eve Bishop, who was second in the 300 at Dartmouth, was just too tough in the anchor leg and the Blue and Gold won in 4:14.5, about two seconds ahead of the Raiders. “Eve is amazing,” said Comeau. “Their anchor ran incredibly,” said Central coach Katie Sullivan. The Raiders (6-1, 3-1 MVC Large) got out to a commanding 20-7 early lead but Andover (5-0, 3-0) roared back. One key was Meghan McPhee’s six-second personal best of 3:14.4 to win the 1,000. Eagle-Tribune cross country MVP Maggie Mullins won the mile in 5:15.9. She had to bring her A game as Central’s Lanie Jowett ran an indoor school record 5:16.9. Another Raider highlight was Leanne Kent and Julianna Piemonte going 1-2 in the 50-yard dash.

Xavier Peralta and Matt Fenlon each scored in three events to lead Central Catholic to a runner-up finish at the Division 2 state relays. Kevin Conboy, Shawn Fournier and Nick Bordanu combined to win the shot put.

Matt Fenlon battled Lowell's anchor in the final lap and ended up winning on a lean to get the dramatic win and earn Central Catholic a 43-43 tie with Lowell. The other relayers were Brad Donahue, Trae Musumarra and Cam Walsh. Xavier Peralta's career-best 6-foot leap won the high jump.

Central Catholic senior Kevin Conboy had a personal-best winning heave of 45-9 in the shot put and Connor Habib ran a PR time of 4:50.4 to win the mile as the Raiders whipped Dracut 61-25.

Senior Brad Donahue ran a career best 34.7 in a talent-laden 300 field to help Central Catholic to a 48-38 win over Haverhill. Alex Dehullu earned a key second for the Raiders in the hurdles (personal best) and a third in the high jump. Josh Goehring (600, relay) was a double-winner for the Hillies, who won six events events but couldn't match the Raiders' depth.

Xavier Peralta won two events in Central Catholic's 59-27 win over Chelmsford. Peralta won the 50 hurdles with a 6.8 and the high jump with a height of 5-10.

In an evenly matched meet, Methuen beat Central Catholic 48-38. Derek Feole of Methuen won the shot put with a distance of 45-7 1/2, with Tyler Bulduc (45-2) and Dan Cormier (44-6 3/4) coming in second and third, respectively.