ConVal was alive with activity Tuesday afternoon. Over by the road, long jumpers stretched, readied and sprinted down to the pit, taking flying leaps into the sand. Nearby, shotputters flexed and focused before heaving their heavy orbs into space. Across the football field — still too wet for spring sports, so stay off! — sprinters alternately soaked in the brief sun showers and bristled against the chilly winds.
Even with the field events limited due to soggy conditions, there was plenty to see, a perfect chance to get a glimpse of what this track and field season holds for ConVal, Conant and Mascenic.
Conant’s brightest star this season will likely be Tyler Sands. The seemingly superhuman junior swept all four of his events — the 100, 200, high jump and shotput — at Saturday’s meet at Monadnock. He continued that trend Tuesday, winning handily in the 100, 200 and 400.
The Orioles have plenty to talk about beyond Sands, too. Coach Erin Kelly said the program has “record numbers” this year, the biggest team since she took over the Orioles. And, they have someone in nearly every event.
“We don’t have a lot of depth, but we have a lot of breadth,” Kelly said, florescent scarf bundled to keep out the April cold.
Freshman Isabella Mormando looks to build on her distance events. She took fourth in both the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs on Tuesday.
Senior Brandi Pugh looked strong in the long jump; she landed in second place at 13’11”.
The Mascitti twins, seniors both, are both back in action for Conant. Jessie looked good in the 100 hurdles, finishing third, and both she and Jammie will pole vault this season as well.
Senior Aaron Bresnick should have a good final season in the middle and long distances; he took third in the 800 meter run on Tuesday.
Sophomore Mo Hill also made some strides, placing 6th in the 1,600.
Mascenic, of course, basically uses track to build their skills for long-distance running in the fall season, but that can certainly translate to success in the spring.
Viking junior Jake Movsessian passed senior Avery Traffie on the final lap of the 1,600 meter to take first in that event; both Vikings finished with sub-five minute times there. Just behind them was freshman Logan Thibault.
“I started the last lap in sixth and I thought I had a little left in me,” Thibault said. He pased Hollis-Brookline’s Patrick Bloniasz and then set his sights on ConVal’s Steele Tamok.
“Right around the last 100 meters, I could tell [Tamok] was dying, so I went for it,” Thibault said.
The youngster finished in 5:05, but he his goal is to get to sub-five as well this year, likely possible, said coach Mike Smith, if he puts the work in.
“He’s always desperate to get faster — today,” Smith said.
Mascenic’s makeup this season is antithetical to Conant’s. With all their talent stacked up in the distance game, they probably won’t win many meets, which require strong showings in a multitude of events, but they will still find some success across the board.
Junior Bryce Vaillancourt placed seventh in shotput, but he’s excelled in javelin, where he tossed 111’11” at Monadnock Saturday.
Freshman Sam Tucker is really coming along as well, Smith said; Tucker was 12th in the 800.
On the girls’ side, Mascenic has some prowess as well, with the likes of seniors Brier Haigh, Briana Boulerice and Victoria Bostwick, who finished 5-6-7 in the 3,200. Junior Emese Sexton took 8th in the 800.
When they’re not busy with softball obligations, Sam Bilodeau and Maddie Labrie are running with the team as well.
ConVal has a little bit of everything going for them. Distance runner Clare Veverka was nearly 100 meters ahead of her competition in the 1,600 meter run, nearly lapping the final Hollis-Brookline runner on her way to first. She also took second in the 3,200.
Fellow freshman Rachel Hurley took 5th in the 1,600 — “pretty good for her first varsity race,” said coach Lance Flamino, before the cat-herding-like task of corralling five busloads of runners reduced him to simply shouting loud noises.
Stand out performances from the girls included sophomore Maddy Garland winning the 200 meter dash, and junior Sawyer Cawthern placing 2nd in the 300 hurdles as a debut in the event. Junior Lucy Freeman placed third in the 800 and classmate Caitlin Galea took fifth.
Strong performances were seen from seniors Dalton Coyne, Steele Tamok and Josh Fulton, who placed second in the 800, 3200 and 400 respectively. Sophomore Ryan Murray placed second in shotput, with Nick Bernier in 8th.
It was an auspicious start to the season, one all three teams will look to build upon as they head to Pelham on Saturday at 10 a.m.