RallyNorth.net

Sat, Jun 10, 2017 03:00 PM @ Pinkerton

Team	Final
Andover	0
Central Catholic	0
North Andover	0
at Pinkerton	0

Duffy repeats as New England vault champ and takes second in hurdles

With his time as a Scarlet Knight nearly over, North Andover’s Erick Duffy delivered another tremendous day on the track.

The record-setting Knights senior won the pole vault and took second in the 110 hurdles at the New England Track and Field Championship on Saturday at Norwell High School.

“It was a fantastic day” said Duffy. “I am so happy. It’s exciting to repeat as New England champ. Not many people can say that they are the best in New England in something. It’s amazing and I wish more people could feel it.”

Duffy won the pole vault with a 16-4 3/4, just short of his Eagle-Tribune area record of 16-7 he set last week at All-States.

“It was probably the best competition I have ever faced” said Duffy. “Two others matched me at 15-3, and they were going great. I won at 15-9 then reached 16-4 3/4.

“I went for the New England record of 16-10 but missed it. I had the height but I kept coming down on the bar. I’ll go for that again at Nationals.”

Before that, Duffy made his mark in the 110 hurdles, taking second overall in 14.24. It was just short of his 14.10 he ran last week and just behind the winning time of 14.09 by Billy Powers of Winnacunnet.

“I went ahead for a while but after I caught my foot on a hurdle he was able to take the lead,” said Duffy. “But I was seeded second and I took second so I can’t complain about that. I ran a good race.”

Duffy will next compete in the pole vault, 4x400 relay and shuttle hurdles relay at New Balance Nationals on June 16-18 in Greensboro N.C.

“I am so excited for Nationals,” he said. “It’s going to be a great day.”

Record day for Pinkerton’s Woodman

Pinkerton star Noah Woodman nearly missed his chance to run the 400 at New Englands entirely.

“I realized I had to start the 400 when they called the final call for the race” he said. “I quickly grabbed my running stuff, sprinted over and barely had a chance to warm up. And then I set a record.”

Woodman finished the 400 in 48.24, setting a new record for an Eagle-Tribune area athlete and a new New Hampshire record according to coach Carol Quarles. It just topped the 48.27 run by Londonderry’s Steve Carroll in 2009. It was good for fourth at New Englands.

“This may have been the achievement I am most proud of the year” said Woodman, who won the New Hampshire Division 1 and Meet of Champions titles. “I’m very excited.”

Woodman wasn’t the only Astro to impress.

Adam Spencer placed fifth in the 110 hurdles in 15.00, the fastest time by a local athlete this spring not run by Erick Duffy.

Eduardo Fernandez took sixth in the 100 dash in 11.13. Teammate and Meet of Champions dash winner Jadyn Ruimwijk had a false start in the event and did not race. His 4x100 team was also disqualified and he did not run the 200.

On the girls side Astro Maria Virga was seventh in the 100 hurdles in 15.03.

“I am so proud of all the kids,” said Quarles. “They ran some excellent races.”

Andover’s Tarbox steps up

One of the biggest surprises of the meet was Andover’s Audrey Tarbox, who took sixth overall in the girls pole vault with a school record 10-9.

The mark broke the Andover High record of 10-6 set by Eve Bishop in 2011 and shattered her previous PR of 9-6 set earlier this season.

“She was really surprised she reached that height” said Duffy, who trains with Tarbox at the New England Pole Vault Club. “Audrey had an amazing day. She is going to have a huge season next year.”

Methuen’s Fragione does it again

For the third straight week, Sara Fragione broke the Methuen school record in the 800.

The Ranger freshman ran a stellar 2:14.73, breaking the school mark of 2:15.72 she set a week earlier at Massachusetts All-States. Her time Saturday was good for 12th overall at New Englands.

The Methuen 4x400 team also set a new school record. Their 3:59.21 made them sixth at New Englands and was four seconds better than the previous Rangers mark. The members of the team were Fragione, Kacey DePina, Luana Machado and Sabrina Hare.

Jumpers star

Pentucket star Saige Tudisco placed third in the long jump with a 17-11.

“That was a great finish for Saige to place third in the long jump,” said Sachems coach Steve Derro. “Ellison (Seymour) also had a tremendous meet to place 15th in New England in the 300 hurdles (in 47.33).”

Pelham’s Mia Herrling was third in the high jump with a 5-5.