The best track and field athletes in the state gathered at the MIAA Track & Field Meet of Champions at the Track at new balance in Boston on Saturday.
Louise Flagollet of Frontier Regional was the top finisher in Franklin County. Flagollet placed tied for fourth (5-2.0) in the high jump for the Redhawks. Ella Turner of Milton jumped five feet, six inches to take first place.
“I was really happy with that place,” Flagollet said. “I am slightly less happy with my performance. I feel like I could have done a little better. But I am really happy with fourth, I was not expecting to get that or to even get anywhere near top six.”
Flagollet moves to the New England Championships next weekend with the hopes of clearing five feet, four inches. A jump of five feet, four inches would approach her personal best (5-4.25).
“I am just going to go out there and try and do that,” Flagollet said. “I don’t have a ton of expectations. I am really excited for that.”
Pioneer Valley Regional’s Carter Berthiaume went to Beantown and hung with some of the best high jumpers in the state.
“It was definitely a lot of pressure,” Berthiaume said. “I’ve never been to an event that big. It was huge. It was crazy. I have never seen something like that.
The Track at new balance is a 200 meter hydraulically banked indoor track that can house up to 5,000 spectators. The complex itself is 24,000 square feet with an athlete warm-up area.
“They have the extra warm up track that I was using a lot,” Berthiaume said. “I was wasting time up there warming up. I went down and saw all the people there. It was a different level of pressure.”
Berthiaume placed tied for ninth with a jump of six feet, two inches. Brendan McGeough of Braintree placed first (6-4.0). Berthiaume attempted that jump but couldn’t make it. Berthiaume made the cut and will jump at the New England Championships for the Panthers.
“I couldn’t quite get six four,” Berthiaume said. “I think I was a little bit off with my run up maybe. I am hoping to take it even further (next year). I am hoping for new experiences to help me jump higher.”
Luke Howard of Frontier battled through some sickness to place 18th (9.57.62) in the two-mile. Greg McGrath of Boston College took first (9:08.15) in the event.