Senior Owen Ortiz began his highly-anticipated spring with a trio of individual event victories, guiding Franklin County Technical School to an 80-44 win over Athol High School in the Intercounty League boys’ track & field season-opener on Friday at Turners Falls High School.
Ortiz won the 100 meters (11.6 seconds), long jump (19 feet, 3½ inches) and triple jump (38-6) to power Tech (1-0, 1-0). Ortiz also helped the Eagles’ 4×100 relay team take the win (52.15 seconds), teaming with Donte Rosewarne, Dalton Wesoloski and Spencer Telega. Wesoloski captured the high jump (5-0) to aid Tech in its victory.
Athol (0-1, 0-1) was led by Mason Barrieau’s pair of wins in the 200 (26.2) and 400 hurdles (60.9), while teammate Dennis St. Jean won both the 800 (2:28.6) and mile (5:21.2).
Turners 73, Athol 53 — Freshman Dabney Rollins won three events and junior Kristin Slowinski added a pair of wins to propel the Turners Falls High School girls’ track & field team to a 73-53 win over Athol in the Intercounty League opener for both sides on Friday afternoon in Turners Falls.
Rollins won both of the hurdle events for the Powertown, as she crossed the line first in the 100 hurdles (27.3 seconds) and 400 hurdles (92.6), and she added a victory in the high jump with a top clearance of 4 feet, 2 inches.
Slowinski paced Turners (1-0, 1-0 IL) in the field events with victories in the discus (62-8) and shot put (24-10½).
Athol freshman Grace Dufour won a pair of events to pace the Red Raiders (0-1, 0-1), as she was first across the line in the 200 meters (31.6) and the mile (7:03). Junior Crista Jillson captured the 400 meters (73.0), with teammates Emily England (100, 14.6) and Mercedez Young (2-mile, 17:49) also claiming individual wins.
Turners swept the 4×100 (57.2) and 4×400 relays, while victories were also captured by Lucy Postera (800, 3:35), Brynn Kruzlic (long jump, 12-3¾) and Amanda Cooke (triple jump, 25-8).
Four Rivers 15, Longmeadow 4 — For the first time out this spring, the Four Rivers Charter School ultimate frisbee team didn’t show many signs of rust on Friday.
The host Otters opened their season in fine fashion, dispatching Longmeadow High School, 15-4.
“For early in the season, I thought we played closer to mid-season form,” offered Four Rivers head coach Terry Plotkin.
Isaac Blodgett helped power Four Rivers (1-0) offensively, feeding teammate Mac Almeida for four goals in addition to several tallies of his own. Josh Gibson played well defensively to pace the Otters in the back.
Four Rivers returns to action on April 10 when it travels to Northampton High School.
Four Rivers 12, Northampton 5 — On the road at Northampton High School, Four Rivers made it a clean sweep on the ultimate ranks with a 12-5 victory in a game played at the Oxbow Marina.
Lucia Mason took home the game disc for the Otters, which received strong performances across the board en route to the big victory.
Four Rivers is back in action next week when it travels to Northfield Mount Hermon School.