4×800 team are state champs; Melrose earns silver

Published February 21, 2020

By JENNIFER GENTILE

THE DIV. 4 State Finalist Melrose High girl’s indoor track team. (courtesy photo)

BOSTON—It was a banner day for the Melrose High girl’s indoor track team on Saturday, Feb. 15 when they became Div. 4 State Finalists and earned silver at the MIAA Div. 4 State Finals at the Reggie Lewis Center. The team also crowned a Div. 4 State Champion when their 4×800 relay team of Jenna Fracasso, Ava Palumbo, Alex Cutugno and Anna Mackey ran away against the competition to earn gold medal rights. 

Overall, Melrose earned six individual medals while all three of their relay teams medaled, making Melrose one of the most decorated teams in the division, coming home second and advancing to All States this weekend. 

Those who qualified to compete individually at All States were Katie Duffy in the two-mile and Anna Mackey in the 1000. It was a great effort for the Syracuse-bound Duffy, who dropped tons of time off her 2-mile. Says coach Shannon Kane, “We had Katie focus on running the 1000 this season to help prepare her for two-mile. She dropped tons of time off in just one season. We’re proud of her, she never gave up.”

Sophomore Anna Mackey also majorly impressed. Says the coach, “This was a huge day for Anna. Not only did she medal individually, she was the last leg of our state champion team. She has taken so much off her times as well.”

It was a historic day for Melrose, who last year placed 19th at the event. Coach Kane couldn’t be more proud. “I am so proud of how awesome they competed. They’ve improved so much and right now are competing at such a high level and have confidence in themselves. They know they belong here.”

Among those who medaled were Katie Duffy, who became the state silver medalist in the 2 mile with a time of 11.25.74, Nora Daly in the 55 dash (5th), Anna Mackey, who became state bronze medalist in the 1000 (3rd), Alex Cotugno in the 1 mile (4th) and Charlotte Tysall in the 1 mile (6th) and Chelsea Otaluka in the shot. Melrose’s 4×200 relay team of Nora Daly, Grace Donahue, Hailey Keegan and Alyssa Champagne became state silver medalists with a time of 1:48.22 and will represent Melrose at All States this weekend. Melrose’s 4×400 relay team of Jenna Thorpe, Ella Flemming, Charlotte Tysall and Kate Sikkema also medaled with a 5th place finish and a time of 4:16.36. 

The 4×800 relay team had fans on their feet when they placed first with a time of 10:11.64. Running were Alex Cotugno, Jenna Fracasso, Anna Mackey and Ava Palumbo. Coach Kane spoke of their effort, “Anna passed everyone on the final turn, we were all going a little crazy.”

Others who qualified to compete include Alyssa Champagne and Jenna Thorpe in the 300 dash, Ella Flemming, Ava Palumbo and Katie Sikkema in the 600, Jillian Bakey and Marissa Zelten in the 2 mile, Julia McAree and Grace Donahue in the 55 hurdles.

For many Lady Raiders, this was their last race as seniors. That includes Nora Daly, Katie Duffy, Alex Cotugno, Chelsea Otaluka and Jenna Fracasso.

Coach Kane will certainly remember them warmly. “Nora is our King. We’ve been calling her that since day 1, she is an athlete who doesn’t like to lose. Katie has just been a force for us and has a huge track college career ahead of her. Alex was our great leader, each season she got stronger and stronger, Jenna ended being an athlete who just dominated every time she hit the track and Chelsea just blossomed as an athlete. We will miss her positivity.”

Stay tuned next week to see how the team fares at All States.