Team | Final |
---|---|
Pinkerton | 0 |
Salem | 0 |
Saturday, June, 04 By Jeff Hamrick
MERRIMACK — Having already won New Hampshire’s Meet of Champions high jump title, clearing 6-foot-4, Matt Dionne appeared a little addled on what to do next.
“I don’t even know,” Dionne replied when asked what height he wanted to try next.
The Timberlane senior, however, quickly regrouped and kept clearing
the bar until he had tied the school’s 34-year-old record of 6-7. In
last week’s Division 1 state meet, Dionne won in 6-2.
“I was pretty lost,” said Dionne, who equaled the school mark set
by Bruce Slade in 1977. “Six-four equalled my (personal best) this
season. After that I was kind of lost where to go because last week I
attempted 6-5 and I couldn’t do it. So, I couldn’t decide to try 6-5
again or go 6-6.”
Dionne, who entered the competition at 5-10, made every jump he
tried until his first at 6-5. He rebounded to easily clear the mark on
his second attempt before missing on his first attempt at 6-7.
Despite his earlier confusion, Dionne shook off the first miss, skimming the bar, which rattled but stayed true.
“If someone had said I was going to make 6-7, I would’ve told them
they were nuts,” said Dionne, who will attend the University of Rhode
Island. “I never thought I would’ve come close to it. I would never
have expected it, but it feels great.
“When I set my goals when I started high school, I listed breaking
the school record. But after my junior year, I still had five inches to
improve, and that’s a pretty big gap.”
Discus turnaround
One week after finishing second to Londonderry’s Lyssa Winslow, who
threw an area-record 133-8, for the first time in their careers,
Salem’s Amy Desrosiers came back to defeat her nemesis and friend.
The Blue Devil senior won the event with a heave of 132-11, more
than two feet farther than runner-up Winslow, who also was second in
the shot put. While Winslow now owns the area record, Desrosiers still
has the third best throw of 133-2 made earlier this year.
“Of course she was on my mind,” Desrosiers said of Winslow, who had
never beaten Desrosiers untill last week “Every time I go to a meet
like this, she’s the one I hesitate about. I was so proud of her last
week, but it was a driving force for me in practice.”
Astros blaze in dashes
Pinkerton runners came up big in the 200-meter dashes yesterday with
junior Emmitt Smith winning in 22.7 and freshman Margaret Barrie
winning in 25.49, which places her fifth all time in the area.
Smith almost pulled off the double, finishing second in the 100,
.04 behind Kearsarge’s Parker Hansen. He also finished fourth in the
long jump at 21-4 1/2.
Barrie, who also finished third in the 100, might have been the
meet’s biggest surprsie. The frosh was third in the 200 a week earlier
at the Division 1 state with a time of 26.35.
Garnick falls short of goal
Bishop Guertin 100-meter hurdler Betsy Garnick of Pelham, raised her
hopes at the Division 1 meet last week with a time of 14.59 — .07 shy
of the state record set in 1981. The sophomore was a bit slower
yesterday with a winning time of 14.72.
“I was really trying to break that time,” said Garnick, who
finished third in the 100 hurdles as a freshman. “I think it was pretty
close. (Last week), I didn’t even look at the state record. I didn’t
know what it was. I was just trying to get a (personal best). It was
unexpected, so I was shocked.”
Higgins happy, but not ecstatic
After winning the 300-meter hurdles in 45.01, Melissa Higgins received
hugs from her parents, who assured her she looked real good running her
race.
But the Salem senior has had the state record of 43.63 in her sights with her high school career winding down.
“It wasn’t the time I wanted, but there’s always next week (at the
New England meet),” said Higgins, who bested her Division 1 winning
time 45.06 run a week earlier. “I’m not losing hope.”
Higgins also took second in the triple jump.
Other meet highlights
Salem junior Victoria Rozumek won the high jump in 5-6. Sanborn senior
Ginny Lavallee had a strong afternoon, finishing third in both hurdles
and fifth in the long jump.
Salem star wrapping up career
Troubled with hamstring and ankle problems, Max Jacques was unable to
back up his Division 1 winning long jump, finishing fifth yesterday at
20-8. But the disappointment in no way dulls what he has done during
his time as a Blue Devil.
“I was telling my friends the other day that a lot of people say
they can’t wait to get out of (high school), but I can’t say that
because I’ve done a lot with this school,” said Jacques, who will play
football at Division 1-AA Marist. “I’m excited for (college), but this
was something I’ll never forget.”
A two-time Eagle Tribune All Star and 2009 offensive player of the
year, Jacques finished his career with an area-best 4,559 career
rushing yards.
“His talents were obvious on the football field, and he showcased
them the last four years in track, too,” said Jack Gati, Salem’s
football and boys track coach. “Right off the bat he was a competitor
in track in the sprints and the jumps. He’s just a phenomenal
competitor, but more importantly is the type of kid he is. He is
amazing.”
New Hampshire Girls Meet of Champions
Winners, area placers (* denotes state record):
Pole vault: 1. Jacilyn Briggs, Keene, 10-6; Shot put: 1. Cathy Liebowitz, Lebanon, 40-2; 2. Lyssa Winslow, Londonderry, 39-5 1/2; 6. Katy Ebner, Pinkerton, 36-4 1/2; Discus: 1. Amy Desrosiers, Salem, 132-11; 2. Lyssa Winslow, Londonderry, 130-3; Javelin: 1. Krista Vincent, Somersworth, 137-7; Long jump: 1. Arashana Yanes, nashua South, 18-8 1/2; 3. Megan Schwarz, Londonderry, 17-3 1/2; 4. Katie Schwarz, Londonderry, 16-9 1/2; 5. Ginny Lavallee, Sanborn, 16-8 1/2; Triple jump: 1. Hillary Holmes, Exeter, 37-9 1/4; 2. Melissa Higgins, 35-10 1/4; High jump: 1. Victoria Rozumek, Salem, 5-6; 5. Katie Schwarz, Londonderry, 5-0; 100 hurdles: 1. Betsy Garnick, Bishop Guertin, 14.73; 3. Ginny Lavallee, Sanborn, 14.96; 100 meters: 1. Arashana Yanes, Nashua South, 12.54; 3. Margaret Barrie, Pinkerton, 12.76; 1600: ; 4x100 relay: 1. Bedford 50.65; 400: 1. Cecilia Barowski, Bishop Guertin, 56.58; 300 hurdles: 1. Melissa Higgins, Salem, 45.01; 3. Ginny Lavallee, Sanborn, 45.81; 6. Danielle Cole, Pinkerton, 47.12; 800: 1. Molly McCabe, Bishop Guertin, 2:16.41; 200: 1. Margaret Barrie, Pinkerton, 25.49; 6. Kristen Bourque, Londonderry, 26.41; 3200: 1. Chloe Maleski, Keene, 10:53.38; 4x400 relay: 1. Timberlane 4:01.65; 5. Londonderry 4:10.61 4x800 relay: 1. Bishop Guertin 9:15.02*; 5. Londonderry 10:00.01; 6. Pinkerton 10:02.4
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