FULL TEAM EFFORT BY LEX GIRLS ENDS WOBURN'S WIN STREAK IN AN INSTANT CLASSIC
Meet Information
Woburn Dual Meet
April 15, 2023
Woburn High School - Woburn, MA
RESULTS
WOBURN, MA - The Minutemen traveled to Woburn on Saturday to face off against the Tanners. It was rivalry week on the Girls' side, as the Tanners have bested the Lex Girls in each dual since 2015. Woburn's Girls have been the class of the Middlesex League's Liberty Division during that time, building an exceptional streak of 31 consecutive Outdoor Track & Field dual meet victories. However, to add a little more context into the Lexington Woburn Rivalry, one needs to turn back the clock.
Woburn has traditionally been the streak breakers of the Middlesex League. They ended the Reading Boys' legendary Outdoor Track & Field undefeated streak that stretched 263 meets from 1971 to 2001. The Tanners also toppled The Minutemen's streak in Cross Country. From 1999 to 2006, LHS' Boys Team was unstoppable in League action, winning an impressive 66-straight dual meets. The Minutemen carried that streak to Horn Pond in Woburn, where the Tanners were waiting. That team, captained by now Head Girls Track & Field Coach James Fletcher, put an end to LHS's dominance, winning by a score of 27-28. Fast forward to Saturday, and the stage was set for a classic dual with all of the bragging rights on the line between the Lex Girls and the Tanners.
Things got off to a solid start for LHS, as freshman Lyla Kuhn (1:13.50) turned in a huge six-second PR in the 400m Hurdles to put up three points for her team. Senior Uma Sanker literally got up off the mat, after taking a fall early in the race, to pickup another point with a third place finish. Next up senior captain Ava Criniti did just enough in her debut Mile to win the race with a time of 5:18.39. Fellow classmate Jasmine Sun got the job done with a third place finish of her own, but it was her performance in the High Jump that would make a huge difference for her team. Freshman Felice Haverly turned in a big PR, clearing the bar at 5'0" to place second. While Sun, who has not competed in the event this year, cleared 4'2" on her first attempt, which earned her third place and one very significant point. Woburn's Cyndea Labissiere was clearly the class of the field in the Long Jump, winning by over a foot. However, sophomore Laya Barghuthi gave her team a much needed boost as she matched her lifetime best with a leap of 15'5.50" to place second. Back on the track, The Minutemen's sprint and hurdle squads did all they could to hang with what is the strength of the Tanners. Woburn freshman Nicole Gangi was simply incredible on Saturday. She took the victory in the 100m Hurdles, but juniors Amandine Mangon (16.40) and captain Katie Atkins (17.24) went two-three. Gangi was back in the very next race - the 100m - to earn another five points for her team. However, junior Noa Helmbrecht (13.18) picked up a key second place for the Lex Girls with a big PR. In her final event of the day, Gangi finished off a triple gold performance winning the 200m for Woburn. LHS's Felice Haverly gave her about all she could handle though, as she ran a PR of 26.71 to pickup second place. A member of Woburn's state championship 4x400m Relay from Indoors, sophomore Sydney Metivier won the 400m. But again there was an LHS athlete there to pickup three point, as junior Adia Singh (1:02.01) came through with a PR performance when her team needed it. In the 800m, junior Samara McVey (2:28.91) did all she could to pickup a point, as Woburn went one-two.
While all this was going on, on the track, the Tanners had all they could handle with LHS's Bomb Squad. Junior Quin Tandieh (100'7") and freshman Ainsley Cuthbertson (82'3") went one-two in the Discus to earn eight points. Atkins dominated the Javelin, winning by over 13-feet with a season best throw of 93'0". Tandeih (73'5") picked up third place in only her second time competing the event. Finishing off her day, Tandeih earned second place and three more points in the Shot Put. Fellow classmate Cleo McBride (29'5") took third place. The Bomb Squad doubled up Woburn, scoring 18 points to their 9, and got the Lex Girls back in the meet. Criniti got returned to the track for the 2 Mile and easily dispatched the field. The Indoor State Champ won the race in a time of 11:30.15. Sanker picked up another point for her team by finishing third in 12:07.90. Going into the Relays the score stood at Lexington 63, Woburn 62 after Bruguers Sagues (31'10.25") and Caitlin Lennox (31'2.25") had sealed up an extremely unexpected one-two finish for the Lex Girls in the Triple Jump with massive PRs. With each needing 69 points to seal the victory, this meant that, as all great track meets do, it came all came down to the Relays... and in an odd twist, Mangon in the Triple Jump. The 4x100m Relay got off to a hot start as Haverly handed off in the lead. Woburn's second runner stormed into the lead down the backstretch however, which left Helmbrecht some work to do around the final curve. She did just that, running a stellar turn, and giving a crisp handoff to Mangon who flew down the homestretch to victory. That performance gave the Lex Girls five points, bringing their total to 68, and guaranteeing the Tanners would not leave with the win. However, the Lex Girls came to Woburn in search of a victory, and had two more shots to make it happen. The Lex Girls' 4x4 did all they could running a season best time, but Woburn's relay is the class of the state for a reason, and won going away.
With that, the score was 68-67, and eyes turned back to the Triple Jump runway where Mangon had three attempts to best Woburn senior Giovanna Scire's best mark of 30'9.25", and put an end to the Tanners' streak. On her first attempt, she flew 30'1.50". Her next attempt was a bit further (30'4.75"), but still not enough to overtake Scire for third place. Knowing what she needed to do on her final attempt, Mangon charged down the runway exploded off the ground with three consecutive leaps, and landed at 31'6" to give her team the victory they came for in one of the wildest finishes you will see. The final score: The Minutemen 69, the Tanners 67.
For their effort, the Boys won by a score of 86-50. Highlights included a the 4x100m Relay of seniors Jake Wheaton, Branndon Uda-Thach, captain Alexios Kontothanassis, and freshman Amari Mow achieving the Nationals standard with a time of 43.94 seconds. Kontothanassis (22.72) and Wheaton (22.73) also achieved the MIAA Meet of Champions qualifying mark in the 200m Dash. Uda-Thach did the same in the 100m, with a time of 11.34 seconds. As did senior captain Michael Gerfen (15.57) in the 110m Hurdles. Junior McKenna O'Hare Gibson burst onto the scene in the 400m Hurdles with a Meet of Champions qualifying time of 58.61 seconds. And, continuing his dominance in the event, the Middlesex League Liberty Division MVP from Indoors won the Shot Put and hit the standard for the Meet of Champions with a throw of 51'10".
Other Highlights for the Girls
Other Highlights for the Boys
Up Next
The Minutemen will travel a select group to legendary Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island New York for the 19th Annual New York Relays. This track is revered for legendary performances, which included Usain Bolt's first world record 100m Dash in 2008, high school national record holder Lukas Verzbicas's sub 4-minute mile in 2009, and David Rudisha's world record in the 800m ahead of the London Olympics. The two day meet will begin Friday, April 21st at 4:15pm and continue Saturday, April 22nd as action gets underway at 8:45am.
Woburn Dual Meet
April 15, 2023
Woburn High School - Woburn, MA
RESULTS
WOBURN, MA - The Minutemen traveled to Woburn on Saturday to face off against the Tanners. It was rivalry week on the Girls' side, as the Tanners have bested the Lex Girls in each dual since 2015. Woburn's Girls have been the class of the Middlesex League's Liberty Division during that time, building an exceptional streak of 31 consecutive Outdoor Track & Field dual meet victories. However, to add a little more context into the Lexington Woburn Rivalry, one needs to turn back the clock.
Woburn has traditionally been the streak breakers of the Middlesex League. They ended the Reading Boys' legendary Outdoor Track & Field undefeated streak that stretched 263 meets from 1971 to 2001. The Tanners also toppled The Minutemen's streak in Cross Country. From 1999 to 2006, LHS' Boys Team was unstoppable in League action, winning an impressive 66-straight dual meets. The Minutemen carried that streak to Horn Pond in Woburn, where the Tanners were waiting. That team, captained by now Head Girls Track & Field Coach James Fletcher, put an end to LHS's dominance, winning by a score of 27-28. Fast forward to Saturday, and the stage was set for a classic dual with all of the bragging rights on the line between the Lex Girls and the Tanners.
Things got off to a solid start for LHS, as freshman Lyla Kuhn (1:13.50) turned in a huge six-second PR in the 400m Hurdles to put up three points for her team. Senior Uma Sanker literally got up off the mat, after taking a fall early in the race, to pickup another point with a third place finish. Next up senior captain Ava Criniti did just enough in her debut Mile to win the race with a time of 5:18.39. Fellow classmate Jasmine Sun got the job done with a third place finish of her own, but it was her performance in the High Jump that would make a huge difference for her team. Freshman Felice Haverly turned in a big PR, clearing the bar at 5'0" to place second. While Sun, who has not competed in the event this year, cleared 4'2" on her first attempt, which earned her third place and one very significant point. Woburn's Cyndea Labissiere was clearly the class of the field in the Long Jump, winning by over a foot. However, sophomore Laya Barghuthi gave her team a much needed boost as she matched her lifetime best with a leap of 15'5.50" to place second. Back on the track, The Minutemen's sprint and hurdle squads did all they could to hang with what is the strength of the Tanners. Woburn freshman Nicole Gangi was simply incredible on Saturday. She took the victory in the 100m Hurdles, but juniors Amandine Mangon (16.40) and captain Katie Atkins (17.24) went two-three. Gangi was back in the very next race - the 100m - to earn another five points for her team. However, junior Noa Helmbrecht (13.18) picked up a key second place for the Lex Girls with a big PR. In her final event of the day, Gangi finished off a triple gold performance winning the 200m for Woburn. LHS's Felice Haverly gave her about all she could handle though, as she ran a PR of 26.71 to pickup second place. A member of Woburn's state championship 4x400m Relay from Indoors, sophomore Sydney Metivier won the 400m. But again there was an LHS athlete there to pickup three point, as junior Adia Singh (1:02.01) came through with a PR performance when her team needed it. In the 800m, junior Samara McVey (2:28.91) did all she could to pickup a point, as Woburn went one-two.
While all this was going on, on the track, the Tanners had all they could handle with LHS's Bomb Squad. Junior Quin Tandieh (100'7") and freshman Ainsley Cuthbertson (82'3") went one-two in the Discus to earn eight points. Atkins dominated the Javelin, winning by over 13-feet with a season best throw of 93'0". Tandeih (73'5") picked up third place in only her second time competing the event. Finishing off her day, Tandeih earned second place and three more points in the Shot Put. Fellow classmate Cleo McBride (29'5") took third place. The Bomb Squad doubled up Woburn, scoring 18 points to their 9, and got the Lex Girls back in the meet. Criniti got returned to the track for the 2 Mile and easily dispatched the field. The Indoor State Champ won the race in a time of 11:30.15. Sanker picked up another point for her team by finishing third in 12:07.90. Going into the Relays the score stood at Lexington 63, Woburn 62 after Bruguers Sagues (31'10.25") and Caitlin Lennox (31'2.25") had sealed up an extremely unexpected one-two finish for the Lex Girls in the Triple Jump with massive PRs. With each needing 69 points to seal the victory, this meant that, as all great track meets do, it came all came down to the Relays... and in an odd twist, Mangon in the Triple Jump. The 4x100m Relay got off to a hot start as Haverly handed off in the lead. Woburn's second runner stormed into the lead down the backstretch however, which left Helmbrecht some work to do around the final curve. She did just that, running a stellar turn, and giving a crisp handoff to Mangon who flew down the homestretch to victory. That performance gave the Lex Girls five points, bringing their total to 68, and guaranteeing the Tanners would not leave with the win. However, the Lex Girls came to Woburn in search of a victory, and had two more shots to make it happen. The Lex Girls' 4x4 did all they could running a season best time, but Woburn's relay is the class of the state for a reason, and won going away.
With that, the score was 68-67, and eyes turned back to the Triple Jump runway where Mangon had three attempts to best Woburn senior Giovanna Scire's best mark of 30'9.25", and put an end to the Tanners' streak. On her first attempt, she flew 30'1.50". Her next attempt was a bit further (30'4.75"), but still not enough to overtake Scire for third place. Knowing what she needed to do on her final attempt, Mangon charged down the runway exploded off the ground with three consecutive leaps, and landed at 31'6" to give her team the victory they came for in one of the wildest finishes you will see. The final score: The Minutemen 69, the Tanners 67.
For their effort, the Boys won by a score of 86-50. Highlights included a the 4x100m Relay of seniors Jake Wheaton, Branndon Uda-Thach, captain Alexios Kontothanassis, and freshman Amari Mow achieving the Nationals standard with a time of 43.94 seconds. Kontothanassis (22.72) and Wheaton (22.73) also achieved the MIAA Meet of Champions qualifying mark in the 200m Dash. Uda-Thach did the same in the 100m, with a time of 11.34 seconds. As did senior captain Michael Gerfen (15.57) in the 110m Hurdles. Junior McKenna O'Hare Gibson burst onto the scene in the 400m Hurdles with a Meet of Champions qualifying time of 58.61 seconds. And, continuing his dominance in the event, the Middlesex League Liberty Division MVP from Indoors won the Shot Put and hit the standard for the Meet of Champions with a throw of 51'10".
Other Highlights for the Girls
- Criniti achieved the Meet of Champions qualifying time in the 2 Mile, as well as the mark for Divisionals in the Mile.
- Haverly's time in the 200m earned her a spot of the Division 1 Championships; her High Jump performance did so as well.
- In the 400m, Singh's time qualified her for Divisionals.
- The 2 Mile also saw Sanker qualify for the Middlesex League Championships; freshman Meghan Caldera achieved the standard as well with a time of 12:20.92.
- The LHS Record Holder in the Pole Vault moved that mark up two-feet as she cleared 10'6" in her first Outdoor competition of the season.
Other Highlights for the Boys
- Konothanassis turned in an Outdoor best 42'2.25" in the Triple Jump to qualify for Divisionals.
- In the 100m, junior Victor Yu (11.69) qualified for the League Championships.
- O'Hare Gibson got the League standard in the 200m, with a time of 23.17 seconds.
- Junior Khai Uda-Thach (52.37) and senior captain Jayden Bai (52.45) both qualified for League in the 400m.
- Big PRs were turned in by sophomores Nathan Cunningham (2:04.56) and Zach Barry (2:04.72), as the two qualified for the League Meet in the 800m.
- It was junior Joey "Candy Man" Ryan (4:40.29) and sophomore Max Zhang (4:44.68) who qualified for League in the Mile.
- The "Burger Squad" had a day in the 110m Hurdles as freshman Simon Tandeih (16.32), senior Naresh Vytheswaran (16.60), and junior Jacob Pan (16.79) all qualified for League.
- Jiang also qualified for League in the Discus with a throw of 123'5".
Up Next
The Minutemen will travel a select group to legendary Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island New York for the 19th Annual New York Relays. This track is revered for legendary performances, which included Usain Bolt's first world record 100m Dash in 2008, high school national record holder Lukas Verzbicas's sub 4-minute mile in 2009, and David Rudisha's world record in the 800m ahead of the London Olympics. The two day meet will begin Friday, April 21st at 4:15pm and continue Saturday, April 22nd as action gets underway at 8:45am.