Things only get tougher for the locals today.
Westfield State University will play host to the annual Central/West Division II championship meet this morning, when action kicks off at 9 a.m. with the pole vault. Field events begin at 10 a.m., and running events get underway at 11 a.m. It’ll be a full day for the local athletes who qualified, with many aiming for top spots one week after shining at the PVIAC Championships.
The boys’ meet features several locals in prime position to capture titles.
Senior Owen Ortiz of Franklin County Technical School enters as the top-seeded athlete in the triple jump, where his seed distance of 43 feet, ½-inch is a hair better than the second-seeded athlete Josh Saunders of Millbury High School.
Greenfield High School also has a top-seeded competitor in Isaiah Morrison, who tops the pole vault list at 13 feet, 6 inches. The Green Wave should do very well in the event, as Silvian Popusoi is the second-seeded athlete in the event while teammate David Giurgiu is No. 4. The event also other top area qualifiers in Pioneer Valley Regional School’s Jake Kelton (8th), and Mahar Regional School’s Camden Mosher (11th).
The 400 hurdles will be another event to watch today. Mohawk Trail Regional High School’s Seth Hoynoski is seeded third, while Athol High School’s Mason Barrieau is the fourth seed. Mahar’s Hugo Frost is also seeded inside the top 10, as he enters today with the ninth-fastest time on the season.
In addition to the expected big haul in the pole vault, Greenfield has several top 10 seeds in other events. Popusoi is seeded seventh in the 110 hurdles and could compete there, while teammates Connor Joy (10th, 100 meters) and Robert Byrd (8th, 200) will vie for solid showings in the sprints. The team’s 4×100 relay squad is seeded sixth.
After winning the Intercounty League during the regular season, Mahar has a pack of competitors looking to make their presence felt today. Aaron Hendry is seeded eighth in the 400 meters, as is Ash Shaw in the high jump. Teammate Issak Reinikainen is the ninth-seeded leaper in the high jump, while Nick Sharp is a top 10 seed in both the shot put (fifth) and discus (10th). The Senators should compete well in the 4×400 relay, where they’re the No. 4 seed.
Mohawk’s Zach Coburn is seeded 10th in the 800 meters, while the Warriors’ 4×400 relay team is the No. 6 seed.
The Mohawk girls are loaded with high seeds and will try and post a strong team score if all goes according to plan today. Lilly Wells is seeded second in the 800 meters, while teammate Violet Rawlings is also the No. 2 seed in the discus.
Gabby Shean will challenge for high throws in both the javelin (fourth seed) and shot put (sixth), while the distance events will feature Meghan Davis (fifth seed, 2-mile) and Jackie Wells (13th, mile). The Warriors have two top 10 relay teams in the 4×400 (ninth) and 4×800 (seventh). The quartet of Lilly Wells, Jackie Wells, Alexis Parent and Olivia Parent will likely compete in both.
Mahar’s Kianna Reilly, fresh off an outstanding PVIAC meet, enters today as top 10 seeds in both the triple jump (sixth) and high jump (ninth), while Maeve Powell (seventh, shot put) and Sienna Moore (ninth, pole vault) are also in the mix for the Senators.
The field events should feature some points from Frontier, where Olivia Vecellio (discus) and Jaime Byrne (pole vault) are both seeded fifth in their respective events. Jenna Martin is the 15th-seeded competitor in the high jump, while the 4×100 relay team of Kimani Topolski-Burgess, Lilah Evans, Alicia Hancock and Lisa Portier is seeded sixth.
Greenfield will also look to find its way into the scoring on the girls’ side. Sarah O’Sullivan is seeded sixth in the pole vault, while Amy O’Sullivan is the No. 7 seed in the 2-mile. Courtney Danielson is also a top 10 seed, as she’ll enter the javelin with the ninth-best throw of the event.