RallyNorth.net

Sat, Jun 04, 2011 TBA @ Salem

Team	Final
Pinkerton	0
Salem	0

Dionne soars at Meet of Champions

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.”