Boys’ track team to be honored at State House tomorrow

THE WARRIORS finished 19th overall in the 4 x 1 mile relay at New Balance Nationals in Greensboro on Sunday with a time of 18:16.30. Pictured from left to right is Carter Margolis, Matt Greatorex, Riley Brackett and Rohan Singhvi. (WakefieldXCTF Twitter photo)

Published in the June 19, 2018 edition.

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Representatives from the Wakefield Memorial High School track and field team traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina over the weekend to compete against the best in the country at the New Balance Nationals outdoor meet.

The Warriors had 13 make the trip. Overall, it was another great experience on the biggest stage, especially for the nine seniors who competed together for a final time; a well-earned swan song for one of the most decorated classes in the history of the WMHS track and field program.

The boys’ 1600 meter sprint medley relay team was the first to get on the blocks for the Warrior reps on Friday afternoon. Seniors Joe Carmilia-Smith, Henry Stikeman and Matt Greatorex teamed up with junior Brian Smith to make up the group who would go on to get 19th overall with an impressive time of 3:38.17. There were 40 teams from eight different states, (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Indiana, New York and South Carolina) who competed in the race .

About two hours later, the girls’ 800 meter sprint medley hit the track led by seniors Olivia Cameron, Ana Lucas and Allee Purcell, along with junior Ava Vaughan. Lucas, Purcell and Vaughan also competed in last year’s Nationals.

The Warriors ran a 1:56.40 against teams from eight different states as well (Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Connecticut and Virginia).

The final Wakefield team to compete on Friday was the boys’ 800 meter sprint medley. This team also included Carmilia-Smith and Smith, who doubled up from their impressive performances earlier in the day. They were joined by seniors Marc Biennestin and Henry Stikeman. The boys ran a 1:41.27.

On Saturday, all of the Warriors except for one had a chance to slow down and enjoy the day. Senior Patrick Redmond competed in the shot put at 11:30 in the morning with his teammates looking on. The Merrimack College commit, who was one of the best in the state all year, threw a 48’11.5.

On Sunday, the final team to compete was the boys’ 4 x 1 mile team of seniors Matt Greatorex and Riley Brackett and
juniors Carter Margolis and Rohan Singhvi. The Warriors finished 19th overall with an 18:16.30. Greatorex, a UMass Lowell commit running his final high school race, led the charge with a time of 4:22.042 out of the gates as he handed to Margolis (4:33.010) followed by Brackett (4:47.492) and anchored by Singhvi (4:33.756). It was certainly an exciting way for the Warriors to put their stamp on Nationals.

Following their Div. 3 state championships in both the fall (cross country) and spring (outdoor track and field), the WMHS boys’ track and field team will be honored at the Massachusetts State House tomorrow afternoon. It will no doubt be an exciting and well-deserved day for the Warriors who will be participating in a 45-minute tour of the State House, followed an appearance in a session where they will be recognized by State Representative Paul Brodeur.