National Scholastic success for USATF-NE atheltes

With record-setting temperatures out of Pacific Northwest region, scholastic runners took the stage at the University of Oregon for the National Scholastic Athletic Federation "High School Nationals". Performances did not disappoint, with a number of top 6 finishes by USATF New Englanders including six golds.

Samirah Moody (Buckingham Brown & Nichols MA / MetroCobras) won the 200 in 23.32, another personal record and state record, and finally taking down the New England High School record as well. Moody also took silver in the 100m in a PR 11.51. 

A trio of Rhode Islanders swept the hammer throw with all achieving PR distances - John Fay (Bp.Hendricken) 72.19m/236'10, Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan (Woonsocket) 72.16m/239'9" and Logan Coles (Woonsocket) 70.45m/231'1". Robinson-O'Hagen added a bronze in the shot put in a big PR 19.33m/63'5".
Fellow Ocean Stater Sophia Gallucci (Coventry) won the girls hammer in 54.83m/179'10".

Freshman Ellie Shea (Belmont MA/Emerging Elites) won the 5000m in 16:10.42, a margin of 6 seconds over second. Club teammate Margot Appleton (Portsmouth Abbey RI was third in 16:21.83, and Addison Cox (Coe-Brown NH) placed fifth in 17:00.59.  Cox's brother Aidan was third in the boys 5000 in 14:38.75. 

After setting a high school record in the 2000m steeplechase in June, Sydney Mascarelli (Northbridge MA), won the barrier event in 6:36.24, and Maxwell Stankun-Pickering (Wellesley MA) scored a new state record
with his winning point total of 7344 in the decathlon

Other top three placings -
- Hot off her Olympic Trials 800 a week-plus earlier, Sophia Gorriaran (Moses Brown HS RI) turned in a non-traditional double, first earning a new PR of 54.10 in the 400 for third, and closing the meet with a silver medal in the mile at 4:43.74, a state record and 5 second PR.
- Elisha Teneus-Claude (Stoughton MA) was runner up on the long jump, 7.28m/23'10.75" and Lexington MA senior Aleia Gisolfi-McCready finished second in the 400-meter hurdles with a personal best 59.90. 
- Rhode Island girls Kaylie Armitage (La Salle Academy) and Reese Fahys (East Greenwich) went 3-5 in the two mile in 10:36.31 and 10:41.11, respectively.

Other All-American performances (top 6 finish)
Mile  4.James Donahue, Belmont Hill School MA  4:08.28 PR
100  5.Jonas Clarke, South Hadley MA  10.42 PR
800  5.Darius Kipyego, St.Raphael Academy RI  1:52.46.
Two Mile  5.David Donahue, Wellesley MA  9:04.32
Hammer  6.Serena Lalli, Classical RI  48.90m PR
Shot Put  6.Jacob Cookinham, Bp.Stang MA  18.56m
Javelin  6.Liam Bourassa, Shirley MA  59.31m

Relays
Mixed 4x400   3.Wellesley  3:41.44
4x400           4.Lexington MA girls  3:53.92 
4x800           6.La Salle Academy RI girls  9:18.73
Distance Medley 4.Middlesex School boys  Concord MA 10:04.25
4 x 1 Mile      5.La Salle Academy RI boys  17:41.09

Full results at live.athletictiming.net/meets/10436/events

Recogized as Scholastic Coach of the Year was Steve McChesney, the 30+ year leader at Newton South (MA) HS. His teams earned many league and state titles, with numerous qualifying for and competing at "The Nationals", and many individual team members continued their careers in the sport at the collegiate level. A native of Eugene and a U of O alum, McChesney's family was known as "the first family of track" in the state.

A number of New England officials helped with the meet's smooth transition to the new home facility; they included Bryan Cahoon, Bob Gidari, Elizabeth Haygood, Lisa Helpa, Justin Kuo, Pat Lavelle, and Rich Murray.