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Haverhill Hillies Boys Track and Field '16

Sat, Apr 16, 2016 09:30 AM @ Haverhill
Team Final
Andover 3
at Haverhill 2
Central Catholic 1

Haverhill’s Papoulis stays dominant at Ottaviani Invitational

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Saturday, April, 16 By David Willis
Staff writer

HAVERHILL — Haverhill star George Papoulis was not about to lie. When an opponent overtook him for the lead with 300 meters to go in the 800, he was concerned.

“When the kid passed me on the second-to-last turn of the race I was pretty worried,” Papoulis said with a smile. “I could see him going fast and he was good. But I said to myself, ‘I’m not giving up. I’m going to finish hard and I am not going to lose!’ And I wasn’t going to lose at home!”

Papoulis turned on the jets, reclaimed the lead and closed out victory in the 800 in 1:57.18 on his home track at the Ottaviani Invitational Track Meet on Saturday.

Pinkerton took the boys team title (84 points), while Andover won the girls crown (77 point) without the benefit of a first place finish.

Papoulis, who took home meet MVP honors, added another gold on the final event of the day when he led the 4x400 to victory in 3:34.17. Matthew Milne, Ryan Hunt and Mason Ocasio joined him for the win.

“It was a great win,” said Hunt. “We came off a good indoor season and we added a new member in Mason. We wanted to come out here and get first, and that’s what we did.”

Haverhill swept the 4x400 as Lina Woronko, Jenna Solimine, Maddie Buco and Amanda Vancor earned the girls gold in 4:20.39.

“It was the last event of the day and you have to stay ready,” said Solimine. “We were seeded second but we wanted first. It was a great way to end the meet.”

Mantrana takes two golds
The 110 hurdles may seem to go by in the flash, but not for Andover’s Justin Mantrana.
“The 110 hurdles is my best event because I get stronger as the event goes on,” he said. “I was in fourth place at the fourth hurdle. But I stayed calm so I didn’t hit any hurdles, caught up and pulled through.”
Mantrana won the high hurdles (15.66) in a near photo finish with Haverhill’s Conor Abraham (15.73).
It was the second victory of the day for the bespectacled Andover junior. Mantrana also won the triple jump with a 39-8.75.
“It was a day that no one jumped 40-0 so I took advantage,” he said. “It was a great day, and hopefully there will be more to come.”
Tapper a Fab Frosh
North Andover freshman Trinity Tapper made the mistake of asking the question before the finals began.
“I was thinking the other girls were around my age,” she said. “Then I asked and they were all junior and seniors. It was kind of nerve-wracking to think about how much older than me they were.”
No matter, as the Scarlet Knights youngster flew to victory in the 100 meter dash in 13.27, edging Maeve Swanton of Reading (13.41) and Kiana Bueno of Haverhill (13.46).
“I was confident I would make the finals, but I knew those girls were quick,” said Tapper. “I had to calm myself down before the race and stay loose. The race was so close, but I didn’t look back and I was just determined to win. It felt so great.”
Samuel takes on 400
Already owner of the Eagle-Tribune area records in both the 100 and 200, Methuen’s Wileshka Samuel was excited for a new challenge on Saturday.
“Everybody knows me for my short sprints,” she said. “So when coach (Nick Collopy) suggested I try something new and run the 400 I thought that would be so much fun.”
Samuel won the seeded head in 1:00.69, and ended up second overall, falling to Billerica’s Alyssa Harris (1:00.67) by the slimmest of margins.
“I actually love the 400,” said Samuel. “It was the first race I ran when I started track and I run some relays. I obviously love the sprints, but the 400 is fun.”
Samuel also ran on the 4x100 that won in a meet-record 51.51. She was joined by Kacey DePina, Megan Hamel, and Jurnie Raschke.
Timberlane’s Renahan now a veteran
One season ago, Timberlane’s Elise Renahan was the new girl in town.
The junior was in her first year of track, and the Haverhill Invitational was her first taste of a big time meet. One year later, however, she was more than ready for the moment.
Renahan surged to victory in the 200 in 26.70, more than a second ahead of No. 2 Vanessa Norton of Nashua South (27.87).
“I didn’t really know what to expect because I had an injury at the end of winter track,” she said. “I was going to see how it went when I started. I felt good, I took first and I finished it off.
“I feel like I have improved a lot in the last year. It took me a while to learn the sport and get in shape for track. I was nervous then. Now I feel much more confident.”
Kimball steps up late
Timberlane’s Liam Kimball had work to do on the final 400 meters of the mile, sitting in third place after three laps.
“It was what I was looking to do,” he said. “I wanted to come out slow so that I could finish strong. And that’s what I did in the final 600. I controlled myself and waited to make my move.”
Kimball did make the move, and won the race in 4:28.59. Andrew Ernest of Marblehead was second (4:32.88).
“He had a lot of speed so I couldn’t wait too long to go for it,” said Kimball. “I just kind of put my head down, made my move and had to remember that someone was right behind me and I had to finish strong.”


Game Statistics:

Top five team scores and locals (22 teams scored): 1. Pinkerton 84, 2. Central Catholic 74, 3. Plymouth 43, 3. Reading 43, 5. Haverhill 42; Also: 8. Andover 32, 9. Pentucket 24, 11. Timberlane 21, 14. Methuen 13, 14. North Andover 13

Area placers (Top 6):

Pole vault: 2. Pietro Fina (CC) 11-0; Shot put: 4. Carlos Cabrera (CC) 42-6, 5. Jordan Jamison (And) 42-2; Discus: 2. Noah Malhi (Pent) 126-2; Javelin: 2. Jack Pettis (Hav) 172-7, 3. Colby Prescott (Hav) 161-6, 4. Jake Fogarty (CC) 150-1, 6. T.J. Urbanik (Pink) 147-3; Long jump: 2, Lukas Blythe (CC) 20-0, 3. Matt Manteiga (NA) 19-11, 5. Jeremy Urena (CC) 19-4.25; Triple jump: 1. Justin Mantrana (And) 39-8.75, 5. Saul Cespedes (Meth) 38-8; High jump: 3. David Testa (NA) 5-8, 6. Cam Twomey (NA) 5-4; 

110 hurdles: 1. Mantrana (And) 15.66, 2. Connor Abraham (CC) 15.73, 4. David Duchemin (CC) 16.02; 100 meters: 1. Nicco Buccieri (Pink) 11.21, 6. Kaycee Sheibert (Pink) 11.47; Mile: 1. Liam Kimball (Timb) 4:28.59, 3. Niall Kimball (Timb) 4:37.40, 4. Tim Hanlon (Pink) 4:37.76, 6. Noah Davis (Pink) 4:40.40; 4x100 relay: 2. Pinkerton 45.16. 5. Haverhill 45.89, 6. Timberlane 46.78; 400: 2. Kevin Johnson (Pink) 53.14, 3. Mark Iannazzi (Pink) 53.60, 4. Billy O'Neil (Pent) 53.83; 400 hurdles: 2. Justin Cintron (CC) 59.56, 5. Ryan Ferrara (CC) 1:03.14; 800: 1. George Papoulis (Hav) 1:57.18, 2. Sam Coppola (Pent) 1:58.29, 3. Jeff Reddy (Pink) 2:01.62, 4. Jacob Swanney (Timb) 2:01.19, 5. Robert Pineault (And) 2:04.18, 6. Tyler Albano (Pink) 2:05.28; 200: 3. Jayden Ruimwijk (Pink) 23.17, 4. Blythe (CC) 23.31, 5. Eric Rosario (Meth) 23.53, 6. Kendrick Denose (Meth) 23.55; 2-mile: 2. Nick Sevilla (Pink) 9:40.68, 3. Patrick Bastek (Pink) 9:47.97, 5. Nick Murphy (Pent) 10:03.00; 4x400 relay: 1. Haverhill (Matthew Milne, Ryan Hunt, Papoulis, Mason Ocasio) 3:34.17, 2. Pinkerton 3:35.68, 3. Methuen 3:37.78, 4. Central Catholic 3:41.20, 5. Pentucket 3:45.23

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