CRINITI GOES FOR GOLD; GERFEN BREAKS THROUGH TO HIGHLIGHT COACHES FOR LHS
Meet Information
MSTCA Coaches Invitational
January 29, 2023
Reggie Lewis Center - Boston, MA
RESULTS
BOSTON, MA - After a three year hiatus due to COVID and weather cancellations, The Minutemen were finally back at competing against the best large schools in the Bay State at the MSTCA Coaches Invitational. All totaled The Minutemen turned in 14 season or personal best on their way to a very successful final tune-up before Championship Season begins with the Middlesex League Championships next week.
The Lex Girls were led by one of their captains, Ava Criniti. The Division 1A State Champ in Cross Country, already turned in an MA #1 and National qualifying time in the Mile earlier this week when she ran 5:04.16. Sunday, she added the 2 Mile to her resume. The gun fired in the event and she quickly took the lead. Things were off to a smooth start as Criniti led the pack through the mile in a strong 5:33 split. From there she began to ramp up the pace, whittling the pack down to just two girls - Billerica senior Anna McElhinney and Cambridge Rindge & Latin sophomore Aoife Shovlin - as she approached 800m to go. With just under two laps left, McElhinney made a move to take the lead from Criniti who appeared to be weakening. However, with 250 to go, the LHS senior unleashed her signature finishing kick snatching the lead back and powering around the final lap to win the race with a season best time of 10:55.65. After her gold medal performance in the 2 Mile, Criniti was back shortly after to anchor the 4x800m Relay of senior captain Uma Sanker, junior Samara McVey, and sophomore Claire Cunningham with an even split 2:22.2 to earn the bronze medal with a season best time of 10:02.81.
In the Boys' Meet, The Minutemen got off to a hot start on the straightaway. Senior captain Michael Gerfen, who has battled through numerous injuries throughout his career finally is healthy at the right time, and showing just what he is capable of in the 55m Hurdles. In the prelims, Gerfen cruised past his heat to a time of 7.93 seconds, breaking the elusive 8-second barrier for the first time in his career. In the finals, Gerfen nearly repeated that effort by running a time of 7.94 seconds to place fifth overall in the event. His performances mark the first an LHS hurdlers has dipped under 8 seconds in the event since former NCAA Division III All-American and school record holder Matt Hunter (LHS '11) achieved the feat in his senior season. Gerfen was back at the end of the meet to anchor the 4x200m Relay. After strong opening legs by senior Miguel Jaramillo (23.5), juniors McKenna O'Hare Gibson (22.8) and Khai Uda-Thach (23.0), Gerfen got the baton cleanly and dashed around the oval in an unofficial split of 23.6 to earn silver for his team with a final time of 1:32.98.
Other Highlights for the Girls
Other Highlights for the Boys
Up Next
With Invitationals behind them, The Minutemen now have their eyes on Championship Season. The Boys will be looking to defend their title won convincingly last year, when they nearly doubled the point total of second place Wakefield. On the Girls' side, LHS fell one point short last year to Burlington. They will look avenge that loss with a full squad going up against a very talented field in a week's time. The Middlesex League Championships are set for February 6th beginning at 4:30pm at The Track at New Balance.
MSTCA Coaches Invitational
January 29, 2023
Reggie Lewis Center - Boston, MA
RESULTS
BOSTON, MA - After a three year hiatus due to COVID and weather cancellations, The Minutemen were finally back at competing against the best large schools in the Bay State at the MSTCA Coaches Invitational. All totaled The Minutemen turned in 14 season or personal best on their way to a very successful final tune-up before Championship Season begins with the Middlesex League Championships next week.
The Lex Girls were led by one of their captains, Ava Criniti. The Division 1A State Champ in Cross Country, already turned in an MA #1 and National qualifying time in the Mile earlier this week when she ran 5:04.16. Sunday, she added the 2 Mile to her resume. The gun fired in the event and she quickly took the lead. Things were off to a smooth start as Criniti led the pack through the mile in a strong 5:33 split. From there she began to ramp up the pace, whittling the pack down to just two girls - Billerica senior Anna McElhinney and Cambridge Rindge & Latin sophomore Aoife Shovlin - as she approached 800m to go. With just under two laps left, McElhinney made a move to take the lead from Criniti who appeared to be weakening. However, with 250 to go, the LHS senior unleashed her signature finishing kick snatching the lead back and powering around the final lap to win the race with a season best time of 10:55.65. After her gold medal performance in the 2 Mile, Criniti was back shortly after to anchor the 4x800m Relay of senior captain Uma Sanker, junior Samara McVey, and sophomore Claire Cunningham with an even split 2:22.2 to earn the bronze medal with a season best time of 10:02.81.
In the Boys' Meet, The Minutemen got off to a hot start on the straightaway. Senior captain Michael Gerfen, who has battled through numerous injuries throughout his career finally is healthy at the right time, and showing just what he is capable of in the 55m Hurdles. In the prelims, Gerfen cruised past his heat to a time of 7.93 seconds, breaking the elusive 8-second barrier for the first time in his career. In the finals, Gerfen nearly repeated that effort by running a time of 7.94 seconds to place fifth overall in the event. His performances mark the first an LHS hurdlers has dipped under 8 seconds in the event since former NCAA Division III All-American and school record holder Matt Hunter (LHS '11) achieved the feat in his senior season. Gerfen was back at the end of the meet to anchor the 4x200m Relay. After strong opening legs by senior Miguel Jaramillo (23.5), juniors McKenna O'Hare Gibson (22.8) and Khai Uda-Thach (23.0), Gerfen got the baton cleanly and dashed around the oval in an unofficial split of 23.6 to earn silver for his team with a final time of 1:32.98.
Other Highlights for the Girls
- In the 600m, junior Adia Singh ran from the unseeded section to earn fifth place with a PR of 1:40.86; freshman Morgan Wipke was 30th with a PR of 1:46.00.
- The 4x200m Relay of junior Jada Solomon, sophomore Laya Barghuthi, junior Noa Helmbrecht, and freshman Felice Haverly turned in a big season best time of 1:49.87 to finish ninth overall.
- Senior captain Serena Caira had a breakout race in the 1000m, running a PR of six seconds to finish 26th with a time of 3:14.22.
- Freshman Meghan Caldera ran a PR of 12:37.28 to finish 24th in the 2 Mile.
Other Highlights for the Boys
- In the 4x400m Relay, senior Jake Wheaton, O'Hare Gibson, senior captain Alexios Kontothanassis, and senior Branndon Uda-Thach combined to win the event with a time of 3:27.83.
- LHS's Bomb Squad was well represented as senior Allen Jiang turned in his second 50-foot throw in as many weeks, with his fifth throw landing 50'1.50" to earn the silver medal; senior captain Jack Ngo (45'7") placed fifth.
- The Sprint Squad had a strong day in the 300m, with Branndon Uda-Thach (35.62) and Wheaton (35.71) both running PRs to place fourth and fifth respectively; Kontothanassis was 12th with a PR of 36.20.
- Running in the unseeded section, junior Joey "Candy Man" Ryan grinded his way to a PR of over 15 seconds; his time of 9:54.26 was good enough for 12th.
- Junior Nayan Das ran a season best of 4:34.34 to finish 20th overall.
- In the 1000m, sophomore Zach Barry ran through a physical race to earn a PR and 23rd place finish with a time of 2:43.96.
Up Next
With Invitationals behind them, The Minutemen now have their eyes on Championship Season. The Boys will be looking to defend their title won convincingly last year, when they nearly doubled the point total of second place Wakefield. On the Girls' side, LHS fell one point short last year to Burlington. They will look avenge that loss with a full squad going up against a very talented field in a week's time. The Middlesex League Championships are set for February 6th beginning at 4:30pm at The Track at New Balance.