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Sat, Apr 18, 2015 09:30 AM @ Haverhill

Team	Final
Central Catholic	2
Haverhill	1

Silveira, Andover dominate hurdles on the way to team crown

Saturday, April, 18 By David Willis

HAVERHILL — Wileshka Samuel can feel the different looks she now draws as she walks into each meet, and she hears the whispers when she steps to the starting line.

As the reigning Eagle-Tribune girls track MVP, the Methuen High junior knows that expectations are very high. But that is just fine with her.

“Yeah, I can tell when the girls are looking at me and thinking, ‘I’d like to beat her,’” Samuel said with a laugh. “But it feels good. I like that people recognize me. I’m just fine with it.”

Samuel was right back in the winner’s circle yesterday at the 38th Annual Ottaviani Invitational at Haverhill High School, taking the 200 crown in 25.98.

Andover swept the team competition, as the boys rolled to victory with 110.67 points and the girls took a tight win with an 85.50, edging Haverhill (84.93).

The normally calm Samuel had to deal with a few butterflies, as technical difficulties forced her stand by her blocks for nearly five minutes and think.

“During the holdup the anticipation was killing me,” she said. “Once I got going I hit the turn pretty hard and I knew I was going against tough competition (Haverhill’s Kerrin Thomas), so that motivation helped me.

“I came in second at this meet last year, so it feels great to get out and get the win.”

Silveira earns boys MVP

Almost exactly a month removed from winning a title at New Balance Indoor Nationals, Andover senior Sebastian Silveira was craving some competition not wearing Blue and Gold.

“I was really looking forward to this meet,” he said. “I love the pressure of meets like this. I was a little nervous because the last time we ran here the wind was really in our faces, but this was a great day.”

Silveira took home the award for boys outstanding performer, winning the 110 hurdles in 14.58 and placing second in the triple jump with a 41-4.

“I hit a lot of hurdles with my back leg,” he said of his performance. “But other than that I felt great.”

Andover dominated the hurdles competition. Silveira, Andrew Matteucci (15.35) and Justin Mantrana (15.74) took the top three spots in the 110 hurdles. Meanwhile, teammate Sean Caveney placed first in the 400 hurdles (55.44).

Lemieux leads Hillies

The bright sun and warm conditions for Saturday’s meet was met with nearly universal joy. Nearly universal.

For Haverhill two-miler Jillian Lemieux, the sun meant trouble.

“I had to wait for most of the meet because the 2-mile is one of the last events,” she said. “And it was a hot day, so I had to try hard to stay in the shade and avoid overheating. It was a long wait and I didn’t want to be tired.”

Once her event arrived nearly four hours into the meet — it was the final individual event — the diminutive Lemieux ran to victory in a personal record 11:53.42.

“I was hoping to run around 12 minutes,” she said. “I was so excited to run a PR.”

Rothmann kicks illness

It had been a few rough days for Andover senior Sarah Rothmann leading up to the Ottaviani Invitational.

“I had a really bad cold,” she said. “I got it on Thursday and Friday night was pretty rough. I was feeling really sick. I didn’t know how I was going to run, but I woke up today and was feeling a little better.”

Rothmann looked just fine on her way to winning the mile (5:21.50). She also ran on the 4x800 team that placed second.

“I was actually just coming off the 4x800 when I ran the mile,” she said. “I wanted to see what I could do so soon after the relay. It was a fight to the finish. I had to sprint out at the end and I pulled through.”

Cam comes through

Haverhill’s Cameron Simes knew he faced a massive task as he hit the final lap of the 800 trailing.

“I knew I had to pass him before I hit the final turn of the last lap,” he said. “I just had to stay mentally tough. I was able to pass him then push to finish it off.”

Simes won in 2:03.91, edging Caleb Pulliam of Chelmsford (2:04.52).