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North Andover Scarlet Knights Boys Track and Field '08

Wed, Apr 30, 2008 03:30 PM @ Newburyport
Team Final
North Andover 89
Newburyport 49

North Andover beat Newburyport in first meet since tragedy

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Thursday, May, 01 By Dan Guttenplan
Sports editor

Yesterday, for perhaps the first time in his coaching career, Newburyport track coach Tim Foley may have been pulling for the opposing team.

Who wasn't?

The North Andover boys track team came to Fuller Field for its first meet since the death of 17-year-old co-captain Alex Farese nine days ago. Farese collapsed on the North Andover track April 14 and remained unconscious at Tuft Medical Center for a week before he was pronounced dead.

After dedicating the season to Farese, the Scarlet Knights (6-1) posted a 95-49 victory over Newburyport.

"We have to give credit to North Andover for competing so well after the tragedy," Newburyport coach Tim Foley said. "They were very focused and are a fine team | definitely one of the best in the league."

In the days leading up the meet, North Andover coach Steve Nugent could foresee his team's inspired performance.

"The kids are proving to be a real resilient bunch," he told The Eagle-Tribune earlier this week. "I'm proud of our kids. They not only lost a classmate, they witnessed the whole thing."

Newburyport (4-4) received three first-place finishes from captain Richie Roy. He won the 300 (42.5), long jump (19-<1/2>) and high hurdles (15.8). Richie Pace (shot put, 47-5), Sam Bensley (javelin, 147-3), Tom Svirsky (400, 53.1) and Thayer Adsit (800, 2:07.6) also placed first.

On the girls' side, North Andover beat Newburyport, 79 <1/2>-65 <1/2>.

"It was a much tighter meet than the final score indicated," Foley said. "We only won four events, but were in it until the second to last event."

Kaitlyn Wallace won two events | the discus (87-5) and shot put (33-5) | for Newburyport (4-4). Alli Hill-Wilton (high hurdles, 17.7) and Lindsay Cullen (2-mile, 12:11) also placed first for the Clippers.

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