Pelham News : track and field

Top athletes from SHS, PHS push for Meet of Champions

Salem Editor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:29:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Salem High’s track and field team trekked to Concord for the Class L meet on Friday, May 29, while Pelham’s T&F squad traveled to Coe-Brown Academy for the Class I state meet on Saturday, May 30.

Salem
Both of Salem’s track teams scored well, earning finishes near the front of the pack. The boys scored 53 points and the girls managed 47, earning fifth- and sixth-place in the state, respectively.

Several Salem athletes came away with multiple topfive finishes, and the Blue Devils have participants at the upcoming Meet of Champions on Saturday, June 6, at the University of New Hampshire.

Mike Marshall won the 110-meter hurdles and was second in both the high and long jumps, while Jerickson Fedrick was third in the 100- meter dash and fifth in the 200-meter dash for the Blue Devils. Max Jacques was fourth in the 100 and triple jump. Also, the 4x100 and 4x800 relay teams scored points for the SHS boys.

Melissa Higgins was second in the 400-meter dash and fourth in the 200-meter dash, but it was the field where Salem girls earned top marks.

Amy Desrosiers won the discus throw, followed in second place by Robyn Ciriello, who won the shot put with a heave just beyond 38 feet. Erica Begin took third place in the javelin throw.

Pelham
Though the Pelham track teams finished near the bottom of the standings during the Class I competition at Coe-Brown, about one-fourth of the squad qualified for the morning’s events, and several athletes recorded personal best (PR) efforts.

The boys finished the day with six points, while the girls grabbed one point.

Cam Robidoux notched a third-place finish in the 200- meter dash, earning him a spot in the MOC. His feat came just two weeks after he restarted track activity. A hamstring injury suffered at the Pelham Invitational in April had sidelined him for a month.

Kelsi Lynde narrowly missed the finals of the 300-meter hurdles, as she was nosed out by .02 seconds.

While she was unable to make it to the final heat, Lynde knocked .4 seconds off of her PR during the run. Lynde also teamed with Emily Long, Shannon Oriole and Melody Long in the 4x400- meter relay, during which the Pythons notched a time of 4 minutes, 16.56 seconds, good for sixth place.

With few athletes, Pelham High School goals center on strong individual efforts

Salem Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:08:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

With a small squad, Pelham’s track and field athletes enter the upcoming season actually looking to inject some “I’s” into “team.”

Since the short roster currently precludes an end-of-season team state championship, the Pelham coaching staff spends practices and meets focusing on individual goals.

“We can’t do the damage at the state meet, so we focus on helping them hopefully cracking the top three,” said Justin Soucy, who shares Pelham’s coaching chores with Jen Jaquith. “Our goal is as always to get as many individuals to the state meet and have them perform as well as they can if they make it there.”

Cam Robidoux is expected to be one of the main performers for the Pelham boys. The junior competes in the 100- and 200- meter dashes, and potentially a relay team.

In the meet prior to the indoor state meet in February, Robidoux suffered an ankle injury, yet he still managed eighth-place finishes in the 55- and 300-meter dash races.

Jumper and sprinter Todd Paquin was slated to be one of the team’s leaders this spring, as he was in the indoor campaign. However, a knee injury means he likely misses the season.

For the girls, Emily Spognardi continues her first season in competitive track; the junior switched to the sport during the indoor season and found early success with a sixth-place finish in the 1,500-meter run.

“Having the indoor season under their belt helps a lot,” said Soucy. “If they get to the state meet and perform well, it gives them a boost of confidence and gets them looking forward to this season, especially for someone like Emily, who is in her first year.”

Kelsi Lynde and Melody Long are also among the members on the girls team with indoor experience from this year’s state meet. Lynde was sixth in the 55- meter hurdles, and she teamed with Spognardi, Melody Long and Emily Long on the sixthplace 4x400 relay team.

“Getting into the state meet is usually a big goal for anyone on our team,” said Soucy. “A huge motivating factor is to look at personal goals and do everything in our power to make sure we hit those.”

Coaches are excited about Pelham’s strong mix of athletes

Salem Editor — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:28:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

With a new yet experienced coach and a crop of talented young athletes, Justin Soucy foresees the 2008 track and field season as one of growth, development and, of course, success. Jen Jaquith joins Soucy as Pythons coach this year.

With 10 years of coaching experience, some at Concord High School, Jaquith primarily mentors the sprinters, throwers and jumpers. Soucy, in his fifth year as track and field coach, focuses on the distance runners.

Soucy said there are many freshmen and sophomores on this year’s team, and he’s hoping to have several either qualify for states and/or exhibit their potential by season’s end.

“We’re working on depth, and not just in the running events, but the field events as well,” said Jaquith. “We have a lot of young kids taking their rolls on and doing well. The big thing is we’re increasing respect. I mean, it seems that we have somebody who can place in just about any event this year, and from a young team, that’s exciting to see.”

Boys
Senior Andrew Ridlon and juniors Bruce Vieira and Todd Paquin lead a youthful boys squad.

Vieira, an all-state football star, is a strong all-around athlete focused on sprinting and relays, said Jaquith. He’s also working on shot put.

Ridlon, who finished fourth in the indoor 1,500- meter run at states, wants to carry that momentum to the outdoor season, said Soucy.

Paquin, experienced in the long jump, is also excelling in the 300-meter hurdles and recently tried the triple jump for the first time. He has already met state qualifying triple-jump standards, said Jaquith.

Sophomore Coner Mc- Colgan, in his first season as a track and field athlete, is gaining experience in the high jump, triple jump and 400- meter dash.

Also competing for the first time is Bill Helliwell, who competes in all three throwing events – javelin, shot put and discus.

Girls
Freshman Kelsi Lynde is “smoking” the 100- and 300- meter hurdles, said Jaquith, and senior Leanne Cann, she added, has looked great in the shot put and is quickly picking up high jump.

Seniors Rachel Notini and Stephanie Burke, both past state qualifiers, run the 1,600 and 800. Emily Spognardi, Jordyn Oriole and Shannon Oriole are expected to compete in long distances as well.

• • •

At a nine-team meet hosted by Pelham on Saturday, April 12, the boys finished sixth with 45.75 points and the girls placed eighth with 36.66 points.

Cameron Robidoux tied for third with Vieira in the 100-meter dash. Robidoux also tied for third in the 200; Viera placed fifth.

Paquin took second in long jump and triple jump and fourth in the 300 hurdles. Mark Riddinger scored points in high jump. Robidoux, Riddinger, Paquin and Vieira took fifth in the 4x100-meter relay.

For the girls, Lynde won the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles and came in eighth in long jump.

Shannon Oriole placed fourth in the 800-meter run, and Jordyn Oriole earned fourth in the 1,600, where Spognardi took eighth.

Cann placed seventh in high jump.

Both Orioles, Spognardi and Kelsi Lynde finished fourth in the 4x100 relay.

Longtime coach leaves lasting impression

Salem Editor — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:35:00 GMT

By Ryan O’connor

The New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Championships at Dartmouth College in Hanover on Sunday, Feb. 3, included several locals sprinting, leaping and throwing against some of the best athletes in the state.

In Class L, Salem finished ninth among boys teams and 13th among the girls.

In Class I, Pelham came in 18th in the boys event, and the girls were 22nd.

Salem

Michael Marshall won the boys 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.85 seconds, and teammates Nick Cavallo and Alex Miller placed sixth and seventh with times of 8.41 and 8.43, respectively.

Marshall also tied for second in the high jump at 6 feet, 2 inches, and finished fifth in the long jump with a distance of 20 feet, 4 inches.

Alex Miller finished sixth in the boys 55-meter dash at 6.83 seconds,

Robyn Ciriello placed fifth in the girls shot put with a throw of 32 feet, .25 inches; Melissa Higgins came in seventh in the girls 300-meter dash at 43.38 seconds; Megan McLaughlin, with a time of 1:43.93, took ninth in the 600-meter run; and Breanne Parhiala, at a distance of 15-07.25, was eighth in the long jump.

The girls 4x800 relay team placed fourth at 10:10.96, and in the 4x400, the girls finished fifth at 4:17.24.

The boys 4x200 relay team finished sixth at 1:37.29.

Pelham

Andrew Ridlon placed fourth in the boys 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:24.96, and Todd Paquin was eighth in the long jump with a distance of 19-01.25.

Bruce Vieira came in 10th in the boys 100-meter dash with a time of 38.87 seconds, and David Periera was 11th in the 600-meter run at 1:32.56.

Paquin, Periera, Vieira and Mike Bogochow came in sixth in the boys 4x200 relay at 1:42.51.

Jordyn Oriole finished ninth in the girls 600-meter run, at 1:48.64, and Shannon Oriole was ninth in the 1,000-meter run at 3:21.49.

Kelsi Lynde came in ninth in the 55-meter hurdles preliminary at 9.80 seconds, missing the finals by one-tenth of a second, and Stephanie Martins was 15th in the 1,500-meter run.

The girls 4x800-meter relay team of Shannon Oriole, Jordyn Oriole, Rachel Notini and Martins finished sixth at 10:29.42.

Jumping to conclusions – After missing the cut, Standish proves a cut above

Salem Editor — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:28:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

After playing in recreation leagues and competing successfully at the middle-school level, Emily Standish dreamed of playing high school basketball. Instead, the Pelham native didn’t even make the freshman team.

Tony Johnson couldn’t be more thankful.

When Standish, now a Bishop Guertin senior, was denied a spot on the Cardinals girls basketball squad, Johnson took advantage of her open schedule, recruiting her for the track and field team.

“It’s hard when you’re 14 or 15 and you’ve had a relatively good athletics career, and then a high school coach says no,” said Johnson, who led the Lady Cardinals to their second straight Class L track and field title on May 26. “It can be devastating, but instead of dwelling on it, Emily sat with me and decided to try track and see what happens.”

Standish blossomed into the state’s best female high jumper, earning her second straight Meet of Champions title, on June 2, clearing a height of 5 feet, 4 inches. She then competed at the New England regional meet on June 8, tying for seventh with another jump of 5-04.

Standish travels to Greensboro, N.C., for nationals on Friday, June 15. The trip marks her second season competing for a national-ranking; she placed 21st in her first appearance.

“Nationals can be very intimidating,” said Standish, “because you’re there with the best jumpers in the country. This year I’m not putting that much pressure on myself like I did last year. The second time will be better either way, because at least I’m thinking about it differently.”

Standing at 6-foot-1, Standish, the tallest female in her graduating class, has what Johnson called “the perfect, long, lean high-jumper’s body to do big things.” Athletic ability aside, Johnson said her intelligence is behind the bulk of her success.

“I could tell she was tall and coordinated for her age and size,” said Johnson of his first impression of Standish. “When the basketball coach passed on her I thought, ‘What are you, crazy?’ I told Emily to give me time, and I could guarantee a state title. Within a year and a half, she was there.

“Looking at her from an athletic standpoint, yes she had the right build,” he continued. “But the question was, will she be dedicated enough? Will she grasp the concepts we throw at her?”

The answer was yes.

She’s improved every season, and now claims two indoor track state titles, two M of C titles and one Class L outdoor title. And Johnson said Standish’s best results are yet to come.

Headed for Yale University as a biology major in the fall, Standish said, more than the medals and accolades adorning her bedroom walls, it’s the friendships with fellow high jumpers – and rivals – she’ll miss most.

“We’re always rooting for each other while secretly hoping the other one breaks an ankle,” said St. Thomas jumper Abigail Blomeke with a laugh. “But that’s how it is with any friendly rivalry. I’ve definitely developed a nice camaraderie with her, and it certainly comes out at the big meets when we’re quietly cheering each other on.”

State’s best meet at UNH; some earn regionals

Salem Editor — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:26:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

On Saturday, June 2, the state’s best track and field athletes converged upon the University of New Hampshire’s oval to compete in this year’s Meet of Champions.

The final results yielded strong finishes and secured spots in the New England High School Track and Field Championships at Fitchburg State in Fitchburg, Mass., for several Neighborhood athletes.

Salem High School

Junior Nicole Duarte represented the Lady Blue Devils, placing third in the discus with a throw of 104 feet, 9 inches.

For the boys, Michael Marshall took third in the high jump with a leap of 6 feet; Andrew Dickie placed fourth in the javelin with a toss of 163-01.

Pelham High School

Class I javelin champion Chris Fournier took 12th with a throw of 147-08.

Bishop Guertin High School

Pelham native Emily Standish earned herself a ticket to New Englands with a first-place finish in the high jump. The senior cleared a height of 5-4 as a member of Bishop Guertin’s track and field team.

Pelham produces a champion

Salem Editor — Wed, 30 May 2007 17:31:00 GMT

BY MATT STOUT

On Saturday, May 26, Pelham’s Kris Fournier brought his best to the Class I track and field championships. Now, he is the best.

With a personal-best and school-record throw of 166 feet, 6 inches, the senior claimed the Class I crown in the javelin at Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook, earning all 10 of the Pythons’ points in the meet.

Fournier, who finished fourth in last year’s class championships with a toss of 156-00, beat his next closest competitor this year by 5 feet and the third-place finisher by more than 10 feet.

His throw, which came roughly two weeks after he registered a toss of 163-11, would have been the best among last year’s Class I competitors as well.

Fournier also qualified to compete in the Meet of Champions on Saturday, June 2, at the University of New Hampshire. Fournier made the cut last year, but missed the meet to attend an out-of-state funeral service.

This year, he’ll face some stiff Class L competition that featured five throwers who qualified with a toss of 166-11 or better.

Other Pelham competitors on Saturday included Jake Downs, who placed 13th in the 100-meter dash; the Pythons 4 X 100-meter relay team of Downs, Todd Paquin, Cameron Robidoux and Bruce Vieira, which finished eighth; and Max Roth, who placed 11th in the javelin with a throw of 135-08. Andrew Ridlon also competed in the 1,600-meter run.

The girls team’s lone competitor, junior Stephanie Martins, placed 15th in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5-minutes, 56.05 seconds.

Pelham Parks & Recreation offers track and field program

Salem Editor — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:10:00 GMT

Pelham Parks and Recreation now offers registration for the Hershey Track and Field program, open to 9- to 14-year-old boys and girls, as of Dec. 31, 2007.

Students practice at the Pelham High School track with coach Peg Sawicki on Wednesday evenings, from 6 to 7 p.m., starting May 30, with added days after school ends.

A copy of the child’s birth certificate is needed at time of sign up. The cost is $40 per child, which includes transportation to a state meet, typically in Concord in early July by school bus, as well as a tank top or T-shirt.

Be sure to note the shirt size on the registration form. Teams will be selected to be in the event, and all participants may attend.

Space is limited to a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-up forms are available at the 6 Village Green office or www.pelhamweb.com/recreation. Call 635-2721 or e-mail recreation@pelhamweb.com with questions.

Pelham Parks and Recreation offers track and field program

Salem Editor — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:30:00 GMT

Pelham Parks and Recreation now offers registration for the Hershey track and field program, open to 9- to 14-year-old boys and girls, as of Dec. 31, 2007.

Students practice at the Pelham High School track with coach Peg Sawicki on Wednesday evenings, from 6 to 7 p.m., starting May 30, with added days after school ends.

Be sure to note the shirt size on the registration form. Teams will be selected to be in the event, and all participants may attend.