One year after finishing 12th at the MIAA Division 3 championship, the Walpole boys’ indoor track and field team soared to the title Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Center.
With junior Shane Grant recording wins in the 1,000 meters (2 minutes 35.13 seconds) and the mile (4:30.43) and the Rebels also capturing a victory in the 4x800 relay, Walpole (51 points) edged Tewksbury (44) and Shepherd Hill-Dudley (42) for the program’s first championship since 1988.
“It’s kind of surreal, I wasn’t really expecting it. We all knew we had a chance,’’ said Grant, who nosed out Milford’s Joseph Madden by .19 seconds in the 1,000.
The Rebels also received a runner-up finish in the 600 from junior Stephen Colleran (1:24.07).
Walpole’s 4x800 relay team of Grant, sophomore Christopher Mackenzie, junior Ryan Stockwell, and senior Kevin Taylor finished seven seconds ahead of runner-up Hingham with a time of 8:18.56.
“It’s a goal that we set forth at the beginning of the season, and to actually accomplish it — it’s a surreal feeling,’’ Walpole coach Corey Coogan said.
In winning its first title since 2013, the Hingham girls’ team (73 points) coasted past Shepherd Hill-Dudley (44) and Milton (39).
The Harborwomen did not win a single event, but their depth was the difference.
Senior Caroline Johannes (5:12.81) was fifth in the mile, followed by sophomore teammate Pria Parker (5:14.80).
Junior Libby Ranocha then finished second in the 600 (1:38.72).
Placing third in both the 4x200 and 4x400 relays proved key. Freshman Francesca Candelieri joined senior captains Victoria Goon, Isabelle Gay, and Elise Birkhaeuser in completing the 4x200 in 1:47.14. Senior Avery Lawless then teamed with juniors Lindy Stadtlander, Ciara Dale, and Ranocha to clock a 4:07.99 in the 4x400.
“Going in, we thought we had maybe about 58 points, but we totally outdid ourselves,’’ coach Dawn Diedricksen said. “The rankings say one thing but anything can happen when it comes down to the actual competition. The girls really pulled through.’’
Alex Bensley can be reached at alex.bensley@globe.com.
