North Andover boys, girls rule the Division 2 field

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK

Hingham’s Zoe Schulz releases the javelin while competing in the girls javelin relay during the Division 2 State Track Relays on Friday in Bridgewater. PHOTO BY PAUL CONNORS — MEDIA NEWS GROUP/BOSTON HERALD

Wellesley’s Fin Ainge clears the Barr at 5 feet while competing in the boys high jump relay during the Division 2 State Track Relays on Friday. PHOTO BY PAUL CONNORS — MEDIA NEWS GROUP/BOSTON HERALD

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By Brendan Connelly

Correspondent

BRIDGEWATER >> Sometimes the most memorable track events happen in the evening.

As nightfall encapsulated the stadium Friday, North Andover was able to keep two dynasties alive, in some respect.

Trevor Hunter, Brendan Dee, Aidan McGarry and Josh Quijada registered a victory in the 4×200-meter relay (1:29.75), as the Scarlet Knights captured the boys Div. 2 track and field relay crown with a complete team effort at Bridgewater-Raynham Memorial High School.

“This is our favorite meet of the year,” said North Andover boys track coach Steve Nugent. “This is the one where we can take as many guys as we want to. It’s something that we circle on the calendar first. It’s something that is important for our team culture.”

The Scarlet Knights also registered a win in the pole vault relay, led by an 11-foot leap from Chris Ferris. Patrick Nugent and Adam Bernat also performed well in the event.

However, the meet came down to the discus relay for North Andover. Ethan Jacques placed second with a toss of 45.47 meters, as the Scarlet Knights edged Peabody for the title by just six points. Ultimately, the school’s ‘A’ team compiled 77 as a group, while its ‘B’ team added seven to put them over the top with 84 as a squad.

“We had to wait for those discus results to come in,” Nugent said. “This meet’s all about the depth of your team. We got second, and we got seventh. That’s what put us over the top. I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”

Meanwhile, North Andover also was able to capture its second straight Div. 2 girls crown with 72 points. Luna Prochazkova, Hannah Shea, Julia Kroon and Nicole Kroon paced the Scarlet Knights to a win in the 4×1600 (22:30.19), as they knocked off Wellesley in a heated race.

“We’ve been in the mix every year for the last five at least,” said North Andover girls coach Rick DelleChiaie. “This was a nice one. In a meet like this, you’re looking at all the events total, and one place makes all the difference in the world.”

Other noteworthy performances included Hopkinton’s team in the boys 110-meter shuttle hurdles, as Lean Augusto Burg, Max Keeler, Jacob Logan and Harry Millar blazed to a meet-record time of 1:01.25, besting the prior mark set in 2013 by .02 ticks.

Patrick Kenneally, Anderson Cheung, Nico Peukart and Daichi Collins cruised to a winning time of 8:01.18 in the boys 4×800, 1.62 seconds better than the original record placed in 2014.

Alex Jackson continued his historic high school career in the boys shot put relay with an impeccable toss of 19.07 meters, as he teamed up with Areno Saint-Victor and Jackson O’Brien for a meet record distance of over 157 feet.