BUCKLAND — There comes a time every year at Mohawk Trail Regional High School when the parking lot overflows and cars spill out onto Route 112. That day was Friday, and the reason for the throng of cars was the annual Western Massachusetts Division 2 Track and Field Championships.
The Mount Greylock boys team took the victory home to the Berkshires with 69 points. Although Intercounty League champion Frontier was able to secure sixth place, Red Hawks’ hurdler Phaelon Koski believed the team had more in them.
“I am going to be honest, some people have underperformed, myself included … I am incredibly pleased with all the people that have placed, because a lot of them are underclassman, and that means they have more years to do this,” Koski said.
The senior beat out Athol’s Mason Barrieau in the 400-meter hurdles to secure the win for his team. Koski posted a time of 57.88 seconds, while Barrieau fell behind with a 58.81 seconds.
Frontier tied for sixth place with Wahconah with 42 points, Mohawk placed 11th with 31, and Greenfield followed close behind at 13th with 28 points.
A week ago, Koski broke the Frontier school record in the 400-meter hurdles, beating the previous time of 58.9 seconds. After winning the regional event, he continues reaching for higher limits.
“All the things I have been thinking about while I have been training is what it’s like to be at the end of the 400 hurdles and having nobody near you,” said Koski. “It’s not a thing where you can just try harder and then do it … I think (the hurdle event) is more of a mental race than a physical race.”
For Mohawk, London Summers took home the gold for the javelin.
“I focus on one thing at a time. I was seeded second, but I always go into an event thinking I am the best guy there. I expect to win,” said Summers.
Since Summers placed within the top five, he earned a ticket to the WMass-Central Division 2 championships.
“I keep to myself, I keep my head down, stay humble. I don’t tell anyone my distances and then I go out there and I rip it.”
Other local athletes placed at the large meet. Theodor Poposoi earned the gold for Greenfield in the pole vault with a height of 12-6½, while Pioneer’s Gavin Curtis placed third at 10-3. Greenfield’s Crescens Iavorschi placed second in the 100-meter dash, while Frontier’s Alex Sharp placed third in the one mile event with a time of 4:47.61 minutes.
The Intercounty League was strong in the 110-meter hurdles with two top-four placements. Greenfield’s Liviu Mihailicenco placed third in 17.39 seconds, Athol’s Barrieau placed behind Mihailicenco with a time of 17.72 seconds.
Pioneer’s Scott McDonough placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 20-6½, and Emanuil Rahubenco placed fifth in javelin for Greenfield with a 131-11 toss.
In team events, Frontier’s 4×800-meter relay team placed second in 8:55.48, and Mohawk took bronze in the 4×400 meter relay at 3:39.05.
Mohawk has hosted this event for more years than most can count, and it brings excitement to players and coaches alike.
“This is definitely the biggest event of the year (at Mohawk) … we are lucky to be able to host … it says lot about who we are as a school and community,” said Greg Vouros, the athletic director for Mohawk.
For the Mohawk students, it’s a day that is comparable to pep rallies and homecoming dances.
“It’s like Christmas,” said Guy Rice-Lesure, a member of the home team.