RallyNorth.net

Sat, Jun 12, 2010 10:00 AM @ Andover

Team	Final
at Andover	0
Lawrence	0
Londonderry	0

Lawrence relay, Andover's Cronin, Salem's Desrosiers win New England titles

They've heard the stories, seen the clippings and chased the ghosts.

Sprinters at Lawrence High are well aware of that school's long-standing legacy of turning out speedsters, including several recent All-State champions.

But none of the recent crop of greats like Johan Rafael and Enrique Cuesta, had ever brought home a New England title.

That all changed at the 65th New England Track Championships yesterday in New Britain, Conn.

Jean Zorilla, Francesco Cuesta, Christian Reyes, and Francis Nova took part in another epic showdown with arch-rival Andover and this time the Lancers came out on top 43.06-43.09.

Andover's sensational junior Moira Cronin braved the rainy conditions to high jump 5-9 and win her second straight regional title. She got revenge on Mansfield standout Kristen McDonough, who upset her at All-States.

Salem junior Amy Desrosiers again proved that nobody does it better when the pressure is on. Her 123-10 heave won her the discus title after bringing home the silver as a sophomore.

"We hadn't beaten them, I think it was five times,'' said Lawrence coach Anthony Ellis of Andover.

The Lancer team was comprised of junior Jean Zorilla, senior Francesco Cuesta, junior Cristian Reyes and senior Francis Nova, three of whom have cracked the area's all-time leaders list in the 100 or 200 meters.

"This is nice, especially for Cuesta and Nova, to finish with a win,'' said Ellis.

Beating Andover, which earlier this year set the all-time area record, is always nice, but Ellis said few things compare to a New England crown.

"Winning a New England title is bigger,'' the coach said. "Cuesta was motivated because he was injured indoors. Nova is easy to motivate, he just likes to win. Zorilla and Reyes were both surprises this year. Jean came out of nowhere. Cristian just worked so hard. We didn't think he'd be one of those four guys.''

The times were a bit off due to the rain and Lawrence caught a break when Andover's All-State 100-meter champ Christopher McConnell seemed to pull a muscle late in the open 100. He didn't run the relay.

McConnell, who tied his own area record with a 10.75 at All-States, was the top dash man in the prelims but finished out of the money (7th, 11.16) with his difficulties in the final.

Nova, a Westfield State-bound football and track recruit, sped to a second in 11.04 while AIC recruit Cuesta was a bit disappointed with his effort, despite grabbing a third in the 200 in 22.73.

Central Catholic's Mackenzie Arndt finished in a three-way tie for third in the pole vault with a 10-9, three inches off her personal best. The junior from Merrimac, who is also a gymnast, previously had set the school record of 11-0, which ranks her tied for second all-time in the region.

Raider senior Zac Borrelli got off a big 164-8 throw to grab a fifth in the discus. That moved him up to fourth in the all-time area rankings.

The Andover relayers continued to prove that few do it better, with the boys 4x400 team placing second in a nifty 3:20.22 and the girls 4x100 quartet also grabbing the silver with a 49.04 clocking.

Like Lawrence, the Golden Warrior girls always seem to have an abundance of flyers, including Eve Bishop, who was sixth in the 200.

It has been quite a spring for Sanborn junior Ginny Lavallee, who proved that even the smaller schools can produce blue-chippers. She ran two 15.11s (in the prelims and finals) for a third in the 100 hurdles. She's been opening eyes all spring, including a terrific 14.77 earlier in the year.

Another ace junior hurdler, Salem's Melissa Higgins, placed fifth in the 300s.

Misfortune struck Methuen's 4x800 team. Cam Kelley was involved in an early collision and lost his shoe. Kelley, who ran a 1:57 last week, gutted it out but ran a 2:05 while awkwardly running with one shoe.

The Rangers hope to make amends when they run the 4xmile at the Nationals next week.

...

Bishop Guertin's Francis Hernandez of Windham placed eighth in the Jim Ryun Dream mile in New York City with a 4:13.65 clocking.

New England Championships (Boys)

Local results (top 6 place):

Shot: 8. Zac Borrelli (CC) 53-3 1/2; Discus: 5. Borrelli (CC) 164-8; 10. Zack Lattrell (CC) 148-1; PV: 9. Adam Vetere (And) 13-9; 15. Evan Towle (Timb) 12-6; HJ: Matt Dionne (Timb) no-height; 300 IH: 11. Jason Mulhall (Timb) 40.84; 100: 2. Francis Nova (Law) 11.04; 7. Christopher McConnell (And) 11.16; 10. Jerickson Fedrick (Sal) 11.52, 20. Ross Davies (Sal) 11.89; 21. Max Jacques (Sal) 11.90; 200: 3. Francesco Cuesta (Law) 22.73; 16. Pat Farnham (And) 23.66; 1,600: 18. Andrew Stamatopulos (Meth) 4:27.27; 3,200: 18. Anthony Anzivino (Pink) 9:29.53; 4x100: 1. Lawrence (Jean Zorilla, Francesco Cuesta, Cristian Reyes, Nova) 43.06; 2. Andover 43.09; 4x400: 2. Andover 3:20.22; 4x800: 7. Methuen (Steve Lilja, Cam Kelley, Ben Pare, Jared Reddy) 8:00.10; 16. Andover 8:09.46

New England Championships (Girls)

Local results (top 6 place):

Shot: 25. Lyssa Winslow (Lond) 34-1 1/2; Discus: 1. Amy Desrosiers (Sal) 123-10; 7. Winslow (Lond) 114-4; Jav: 11. Grace Cardarelli (Sal) 108-7; PV: 3.tie. Mackenzie Arndt (CC) 10-9; 20. Taylor Buatti (Sal) 9-0; HJ: 1. Moira Cronin (And) 5-9, 8. Victoria Rozumek (Sal) 5-3, 14. Jess Salley (And) 5-0; 100 HH: 3. Ginny Lavallee (Sanb) 15.11, 10. Betsy Garnick (BG/Pelham) 15.68; 300 LH: 5. Melissa Higgins (Sal) 45.10, 9. Becca Stabile (Hav) 45.60, 21. Alexis Maylor (Pink) 47.38; 100: 9. Kayla Baldwin (And) 12.94; 200: 6. Eve Bishop (And) 26.20; 400: 16. Kristen Swanson (Tim) 60.80; 800: 8. Hannah Kimball (Timb) 2:20.40; 1,600: 16. Alanna Poretta (Pent) 5:11.30; 4x100: 2. Andover 49.04; 4x800: 9. Haverhill 9:31.13