RallyNorth.net

Sat, May 14, 2011 10:00 AM @ Andover

Team	Final
at Andover	0
Central Catholic	0
Haverhill	0
Lawrence	0
Methuen	0
North Andover	0

Eberth leads Andover to title

Saturday, May, 14 By David Willis
Staff writer

ANDOVER — A year ago, Andover’s Sydney Eberth was relegated to the sidelines as a spectator.

“She was sick with (mononucleosis) and missed last spring,” said Golden Warriors coach Peter Comeau. “She didn’t have a junior season. It was tough.”

But yesterday, Eberth proved a breakout star.

She won the 400, and as the anchor rallied the 4x400 relay to victory, earning female meet MVP honors and leading the host Golden Warriors to a first-place finish at the 51st Collins-McIntyre Andover Invitational.

“I am beyond thrilled,” said Eberth. “Never in my entire life did I think I would win MVP honors, so hearing my name called makes me one of the happiest people alive.”

Andover took first with 106 points, outdistancing No. 2 Central Catholic (57 points). The Raiders were the boys team champs (75 points), just ahead of Whitman-Hanson (74) and Andover (65).

Eberth set her sights high when she arrived at Eugene V. Lovely Field yesterday.

“Going into the meet I was nervous,” said Eberth. “But I told myself that it was my time to win, that I could go out and get a victory.”

The senior did just that, winning the 400 in a blazing 59.44 — the fastest time in the area this season — defeating Wilhelmina Moen of Boston Latin (1:00.10).

“She was fantastic,” said Comeau. “Sydney has taken a backseat to (2011 Eagle-Tribune indoor track MVP) Eve Bishop a lot. But she has really come out of her shell. To win the 400, then come back and overcome the leader in the 4x400 is spectacular.”

Getting the baton for the anchor leg of the 4x400 with her team trailing, Eberth once again turned on the jets and flew past the leader from Acton-Boxboro, finishing off the Golden Warriors’ victory in 4:02.10.

“I could feel the anchor coming up behind me,” she said. “I could hear her. It was really nerve-wracking. It is so much easier if I can chase someone down because you can see them. When you are in first you have to worry. But I told myself to stay calm and kick it in and go.”

Relay success is nothing new for Eberth. She was an Eagle-Tribune All-Star in the 4x400 this winter. But the success on her home turf yesterday was especially sweet.

“I have run behind some amazing runners,” said Eberth, who will run track at the University of Vermont. “Girls like Eve and Kayla Baldwin. To fill their shoes is such an honor. There are some great runners in the area, and now I have confidence I can run with them.”

Quick learners

Lawrence’s Kelvin Severino found the 200 by accident just recently.

“A couple of weeks ago they had me run the 200 just as a workout to get ready for the 100,” he said. “I did well, so we stuck with it.”

Severino looked like a polished veteran yesterday, winning the 200 in 22.77, edging out Andover’s Troy Cayon (22.89).

North Reading’s Nick Capezzuto needed an extra few minutes to catch his break after the 800.

“I feel like I’m going to die,” he joked. “I’m usually a 400 and under guy.”

Just weeks after trying the race for the first time, Capezzuto won the 800 in 1:56.62.

“I never would have guessed that,” said Capezzuto. “It was also a school record. I got stuck behind a few guys and wasn’t sure if I could get around them. But I did.”

Foote takes two

The finish was so close, North Andover’s Amanda Foote had to be told that she had, indeed, edged the competition as the anchor leg of the Scarlet Knights’ winning 4x100 relay (50.54), just ahead of Andover (50.56).

“Andover was ranked really high,” said Foote. “No one expected us to come out on top here, but it is pretty awesome we did so well.”

Foote also earned victory in the 400 hurdles (1:04.06) in front of all-time area leader Rebecca Stabile of Haverhill (1:04.09).

“Stabile is so good,” said Foote. “She has the record. But it is so great to go head-to-head with her. Last year I wasn’t at her level. But this year we are running together.”

Fabulous Farnham

Andover’s Pat Farnham couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he ran to victory in the 400 (49.31) ahead of teammate Brian Knapp (51.51).

“I looked up at the clock and saw a 48 (seconds),” he said. “So I knew I was going to break 50, which made me very happy. I just had to remember not to start off too fast.”

Farnham, who has specialized in the 100 and 200 in the past and just added the 400 to his resume, also ran away from the pack as the anchor of the Golden Warriors’ victorious 4x100 relay (43.37).

For his efforts, Farnham won boys MVP of the meet.

“I never thought I could run the 400,” said Farnham, who did not run in any other individual race yesterday. “It was a little hard. But they asked and I said, ‘I’ll give it a go.’ It’s starting to grow on me now.”