4x400M RELAY GOES OUT IN STYLE AT FINAL DAY OF NEW BALANCE INDOOR NATIONALS
Meet Information
New Balance Indoor Nationals
March 12, 2023
The Track at New Balance - Boston, MA
RESULTS
BOSTON, MA - After three days of competition that saw, among other things, Lexington's own Patrick Noonan run 4:38.08 to earn All-American status in the Middle School Mile, the Boys 4x200m Relay smash the LHS Record with the second fastest time in history run by a Bay State school, LHS's distance queen Ava Criniti finish off her career indoors with a gritty effort in the 2 Mile, the Bomb Squad showing its depth as the only team at Nationals with three athletes competing in the Weight Throw, and new records being established in the Boys and Girls 55m Shuttle Hurdles The Minutemen still had unfinished business at their home away from home. On the final day of Nationals at The Track at New Balance The Minutemen were competing in three events, the Boys Freshmen 800m, Shot Put, and 4x400m Relay.
As is always the case, the final event of the meet was the 4x400m Relay. After their record setting performance on Friday night, seniors Jake Wheaton, Alexios Kontothanassis, and Branndon Uda-Thach were joined by junior McKenna O'Hare Gibson for the final time this season. Coming in with a season best time of 3:25.93 from back in January, The Minutemen were hoping to improve upon that as they went up against some of the toughest competition they have seen. Wheaton was up first for LHS, and when the gun fired he shot out of the blocks and began making up the stagger. After a strong leg and a PR of 50.72, a clean handoff to Kontothanassis put The Minutemen right up in the mix along with Bishop McNamara (MD) and Homewood (AL) at the front of the race. Kontothanassis then zipped around the track to the tune of a personal best FAT split of 50.55, which vaulted the team up into second place after another smooth exchange. Next up was O'Hare Gibson, who got out well and was sitting second behind Bishop McNamara who blazed around the first 200m in 22-low. O'Hare Gibson remained patient and made his move in the final 100m to overtake Bishop McNamara with a PR split of his own (50.86), and hand off to Uda-Thach in the lead. That lead was short lived, as Bishop McNamara surged by Uda-Thach just as the two approached the second turn. LHS's savvy veteran remained calm however, and simply waited for the opportune moment to strike back. It came in the exact same spot on the track. As the two athletes approached the final turn, Uda-Thach charged around the curve and hammered his way home to victory in a new season best time of 3:22.31. That time would hold up through the heats to finish 13th overall, and rank them as the 30th fastest time run anywhere in the country this season.
Other Highlights from Day 4
With that the 2022-2023 Indoor Track & Field Season has come to its end. But, it is important to take a moment to look back on what was a season to remember for The Minutemen in so many aspects. It was the first season not impacted by COVID-19 since 2019. It was a season that saw Lexington's Athletic Director, and Middlesex League Commissioner, Naomi Martin find the team - and the League - its new home away from home at the brand new world class Track at New Balance for all junior varsity and varsity competitions. That change also allowed for LHS's athletes to expand their horizons and regularly compete in Triple Jump, Pole Vault, and Weight Throw, which are seldom competed in Massachusetts. It was a season that saw the rebirth of LHS's vaunted Sprint Squad, the depth and domination of the Bomb Squad, and arguable finest Hurdle Crew that Lexington has ever produced. Seven new School Records were established, including one that had stood since 1976. But perhaps the highlight of season was the way the Team came together as a group to dominate the Middlesex League Championships. Both Boys' and Girls' Teams came to The Track at New Balance that night with passion, toughness, and team-first mindset that simply overwhelmed their competition and led to both titles returning to Lexington for the first time since 2020. That night, and this team, will always be remembered as an example for future LHS Track & Field athletes of what it means to put yourself out there for each other. And simply put, that we are always stronger together. It was a privilege to watch this group come together, and we look forward to even more success outdoors.
Up Next
The Minutemen will return to action on Saturday, April 8th at 10am for the first dual meet of the Outdoor Track and Field Season. The meet - against Arlington - will be held at the Lexington Center Track.
New Balance Indoor Nationals
March 12, 2023
The Track at New Balance - Boston, MA
RESULTS
BOSTON, MA - After three days of competition that saw, among other things, Lexington's own Patrick Noonan run 4:38.08 to earn All-American status in the Middle School Mile, the Boys 4x200m Relay smash the LHS Record with the second fastest time in history run by a Bay State school, LHS's distance queen Ava Criniti finish off her career indoors with a gritty effort in the 2 Mile, the Bomb Squad showing its depth as the only team at Nationals with three athletes competing in the Weight Throw, and new records being established in the Boys and Girls 55m Shuttle Hurdles The Minutemen still had unfinished business at their home away from home. On the final day of Nationals at The Track at New Balance The Minutemen were competing in three events, the Boys Freshmen 800m, Shot Put, and 4x400m Relay.
As is always the case, the final event of the meet was the 4x400m Relay. After their record setting performance on Friday night, seniors Jake Wheaton, Alexios Kontothanassis, and Branndon Uda-Thach were joined by junior McKenna O'Hare Gibson for the final time this season. Coming in with a season best time of 3:25.93 from back in January, The Minutemen were hoping to improve upon that as they went up against some of the toughest competition they have seen. Wheaton was up first for LHS, and when the gun fired he shot out of the blocks and began making up the stagger. After a strong leg and a PR of 50.72, a clean handoff to Kontothanassis put The Minutemen right up in the mix along with Bishop McNamara (MD) and Homewood (AL) at the front of the race. Kontothanassis then zipped around the track to the tune of a personal best FAT split of 50.55, which vaulted the team up into second place after another smooth exchange. Next up was O'Hare Gibson, who got out well and was sitting second behind Bishop McNamara who blazed around the first 200m in 22-low. O'Hare Gibson remained patient and made his move in the final 100m to overtake Bishop McNamara with a PR split of his own (50.86), and hand off to Uda-Thach in the lead. That lead was short lived, as Bishop McNamara surged by Uda-Thach just as the two approached the second turn. LHS's savvy veteran remained calm however, and simply waited for the opportune moment to strike back. It came in the exact same spot on the track. As the two athletes approached the final turn, Uda-Thach charged around the curve and hammered his way home to victory in a new season best time of 3:22.31. That time would hold up through the heats to finish 13th overall, and rank them as the 30th fastest time run anywhere in the country this season.
Other Highlights from Day 4
- Colin Smith got the day off to a good start for LHS. The young harrier toed the line against some of the top ninth graders from around the nation, and showed well turning in a PR of 2:07.30 to finish 32nd overall. With that Smith polished off a tremendous freshmen campaign for The Minutemen that saw him improve his personal best in the event by nine seconds. He also finished the season as MA #2 among ninth graders in the 1000m.
- After Smith, it was back to the throwing area for School Record Holder Allen Jiang. While he could not match his record breaking efforts from New Englands, Jiang managed to finish 23rd overall with a best throw of 51'0.75".
With that the 2022-2023 Indoor Track & Field Season has come to its end. But, it is important to take a moment to look back on what was a season to remember for The Minutemen in so many aspects. It was the first season not impacted by COVID-19 since 2019. It was a season that saw Lexington's Athletic Director, and Middlesex League Commissioner, Naomi Martin find the team - and the League - its new home away from home at the brand new world class Track at New Balance for all junior varsity and varsity competitions. That change also allowed for LHS's athletes to expand their horizons and regularly compete in Triple Jump, Pole Vault, and Weight Throw, which are seldom competed in Massachusetts. It was a season that saw the rebirth of LHS's vaunted Sprint Squad, the depth and domination of the Bomb Squad, and arguable finest Hurdle Crew that Lexington has ever produced. Seven new School Records were established, including one that had stood since 1976. But perhaps the highlight of season was the way the Team came together as a group to dominate the Middlesex League Championships. Both Boys' and Girls' Teams came to The Track at New Balance that night with passion, toughness, and team-first mindset that simply overwhelmed their competition and led to both titles returning to Lexington for the first time since 2020. That night, and this team, will always be remembered as an example for future LHS Track & Field athletes of what it means to put yourself out there for each other. And simply put, that we are always stronger together. It was a privilege to watch this group come together, and we look forward to even more success outdoors.
Up Next
The Minutemen will return to action on Saturday, April 8th at 10am for the first dual meet of the Outdoor Track and Field Season. The meet - against Arlington - will be held at the Lexington Center Track.