Ryan Lucken

That’s the one and only way Newton North’s Ryan Lucken could explain the exhilaration of sprinting away from a packed field to win the 300-meter dash at yesterday’s Div. 1 track championships at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Four teams arrived at Newton North's now famous $200 million complex on Tuesday undefeated and looking for a league title. Somehow, three of those teams left undefeated, and having won a league title. And for the first time in my coaching career, a local TV news crew from Fox 25 even covered the meet for their 6:00 and 10:00 broadcasts, perhaps a sign that track and field might soon move off of the periphery in this state.

Based on the performance list entering the meet, the Newton North boys were projected to score 24 points.  Even further down the list, Mansfield was projected to only score 14 points.  Both should have finished mid-pack if the performance list had any significant impact on the outcome of the championship.  Thankfully for both teams, seed times mean little.

The 600m has always been a strong event in Massachusetts, and this year is shaping-up to be no exception.  Dan Duquette of North Attleboro leads 8 Massachusetts athletes on the list with his US#11 1:23.95 from the Hockomock League Meet #2.  Camille Blackman (Longmeadow) leads the state and is US#14 after winning the mile in 5:13.94 at the PVIAC Dual Meet #2.  She joins Bryanna Allison, Jordan O’Dea, Katie Powell, Alex Giese, Alli Wood, and Brynna Harum in the national top 50.

The MSTCA Winter Festival signaled the start of major invitational action in Massachusetts, and several prominent athletes from last year picked up right where they left off.  It was an impressive first day at the Reggie Lewis Center as the Small School athletes were on center stage Saturday. 

  Photo by Don Rich