THE MINUTEMEN ROLL OVER WINCHESTER TO CLINCH LIBERTY DIVISION TITLES
Meet Information
Winchester Dual Meet
May 13, 2025
Lexington Center Track - Lexington, MA
RESULTS
LEXINGTON, MA - The Minutemen capped off their regular season against Winchester on Tuesday afternoon. While the Red and Black offered little resistance, as both LHS's boys and girls won by over 100 points, the meet gave the Class of 2025 one final opportunity to compete on their home track. And, throughout the afternoon Lexington's seniors turned in a number of tremendous performances to finish off a pair of undefeated regular seasons and Liberty Division Championships.
One of those seniors, Kabir Gokarn began his day with a win in the 400m Hurdles with a time of 1:00.48. However, he saved his best for last, as in the 400m Gokarn turned in a sensational run of 52.62 seconds. That mark gave him his second victory of the day and qualified him for the Middlesex League Championships in the event. Along with Gokarn's big day, senior Saleem Karachi was able to extend his season in the 400m Hurdles. Karachi picked up a third place finish, but more importantly ran a big personal best of 1:03.55, which qualified him for the League Championships in what was his final chance to do so. Another senior who waited until the last minute to extend their season was Jailen Butler. Coming in with a lifetime best of 18'7.50, Butler flew out to 19'9.50" while competing in the JV flight of the Long Jump. That mark earned him a trip to the League Meet next week. Finally it was Emerson College commit, Shariff Robinson Jr. who participated in the Triple Jump - he had never even practiced the event - for the first time. Robinson Jr. managed to leap 40'11" into the pit, which qualified him for the MIAA Division 1 Championships.
The Minutemen only have two senior captains, Caroline Kvaal and Claire Cunningham. The pair have been pillars of the program for the last four years, and have taken on a massive leadership role going back to the fall for their team. Both were well aware of the moment as they lined up wearing the blue and gold in Lexington for the final time, and both delivered tremendous races on Senior Day. Kvaal was first up as she competed in her signature event, the 400m Hurdles. When the gun fired, Kvaal attacked the opening hurdles as she charged down the backstretch. She moved up into the lead around the final curve and with a strong run down the homestretch, took the victory in a season best time of 1:11.93. Fast-forward to the 800m where Cunningham was lined up ready to compete. Cunningham spent much of her career working as hard as any athlete, but the results continued to escape her. However, she seems to be bucking that trend as she has lowered her personal best each of the last three times she stepped on the track. Tuesday ended up being no different. Cunningham took another huge step forward as she dipped under the MIAA Division 1 Championships' qualifying standard for the first time in her career as she crossed the line with a new personal best of 2:24.97. While Winchester was a send off of sorts for the captains, it was also the return of senior Lucy Kontos. Kontos' had a meteoric rise from JV athlete to one of the top middle distance runners in Massachusetts during her junior season. However, a series of injuries derailed her young career for over a year. Tuesday, Kontos made her long awaited return to the track in style. The senior ran a controlled first three laps before unleashed a furious run around the final lap of the Mile. That last lap - of 75 seconds - carried her across the line in an incredible time of 5:20.82. With that Kontos earned a spot at the League Championships next week, and will also be able to compete at the Division 1 Championships. Quite a return after everything this young woman has endured over the last 12 months.
Other Highlights for the Boys
Other Highlights for the Girls
Up Next
The MSTCA Division 1 Relays get underway this Thursday, May 15th at Andover High School as the Pole Vault Relay will be competed. The Minutemen had this event circled on the calendar back in December when the team expanded its vault program, and Thursday's competition will be the first opportunity for the vaulters to contribute team points for LHS. Action begins at 3pm.
Winchester Dual Meet
May 13, 2025
Lexington Center Track - Lexington, MA
RESULTS
LEXINGTON, MA - The Minutemen capped off their regular season against Winchester on Tuesday afternoon. While the Red and Black offered little resistance, as both LHS's boys and girls won by over 100 points, the meet gave the Class of 2025 one final opportunity to compete on their home track. And, throughout the afternoon Lexington's seniors turned in a number of tremendous performances to finish off a pair of undefeated regular seasons and Liberty Division Championships.
One of those seniors, Kabir Gokarn began his day with a win in the 400m Hurdles with a time of 1:00.48. However, he saved his best for last, as in the 400m Gokarn turned in a sensational run of 52.62 seconds. That mark gave him his second victory of the day and qualified him for the Middlesex League Championships in the event. Along with Gokarn's big day, senior Saleem Karachi was able to extend his season in the 400m Hurdles. Karachi picked up a third place finish, but more importantly ran a big personal best of 1:03.55, which qualified him for the League Championships in what was his final chance to do so. Another senior who waited until the last minute to extend their season was Jailen Butler. Coming in with a lifetime best of 18'7.50, Butler flew out to 19'9.50" while competing in the JV flight of the Long Jump. That mark earned him a trip to the League Meet next week. Finally it was Emerson College commit, Shariff Robinson Jr. who participated in the Triple Jump - he had never even practiced the event - for the first time. Robinson Jr. managed to leap 40'11" into the pit, which qualified him for the MIAA Division 1 Championships.
The Minutemen only have two senior captains, Caroline Kvaal and Claire Cunningham. The pair have been pillars of the program for the last four years, and have taken on a massive leadership role going back to the fall for their team. Both were well aware of the moment as they lined up wearing the blue and gold in Lexington for the final time, and both delivered tremendous races on Senior Day. Kvaal was first up as she competed in her signature event, the 400m Hurdles. When the gun fired, Kvaal attacked the opening hurdles as she charged down the backstretch. She moved up into the lead around the final curve and with a strong run down the homestretch, took the victory in a season best time of 1:11.93. Fast-forward to the 800m where Cunningham was lined up ready to compete. Cunningham spent much of her career working as hard as any athlete, but the results continued to escape her. However, she seems to be bucking that trend as she has lowered her personal best each of the last three times she stepped on the track. Tuesday ended up being no different. Cunningham took another huge step forward as she dipped under the MIAA Division 1 Championships' qualifying standard for the first time in her career as she crossed the line with a new personal best of 2:24.97. While Winchester was a send off of sorts for the captains, it was also the return of senior Lucy Kontos. Kontos' had a meteoric rise from JV athlete to one of the top middle distance runners in Massachusetts during her junior season. However, a series of injuries derailed her young career for over a year. Tuesday, Kontos made her long awaited return to the track in style. The senior ran a controlled first three laps before unleashed a furious run around the final lap of the Mile. That last lap - of 75 seconds - carried her across the line in an incredible time of 5:20.82. With that Kontos earned a spot at the League Championships next week, and will also be able to compete at the Division 1 Championships. Quite a return after everything this young woman has endured over the last 12 months.
Other Highlights for the Boys
- Seniors Zach Barry, Max Zhang, James Joseph, and Nathan Drake Cunningham delivered a season best performance (3:28.23) in the 4x400m Relay, which qualified LHS for Divisionals.
- In the High Jump, freshman Henry Moehring cleared the bar at 5'10" to achieve the Divisional standard.
- Junior Franz Schroeder (45'10.50") qualified for Divisionals in the Shot Put with a season best performance.
- The Discus saw junior Nick Roell (146'11") deliver another huge PR; seniors Raphael LeDonne (131'4") and Adrian Boell (120'5") both hit big PRs of their own in the event.
- Junior Brendan McVey delivered a personal best of 2:06.19 to win the 800m and dip under the League standard for the first time.
Other Highlights for the Girls
- Superstar junior Ainsley Cuthbertson moved further up the national rankings in the Hammer Throw as she won the event with a US #18 mark of 158'0".
- Freshman Janie Conrad made her season debut in the Mile and qualified for Divisionals with a time of 5:10.28; Conrad also won the 800m in a D1 qualifying time of 2:23.21.
- In the High Jump, freshman Charvi Talupuru cleared 4'10" to qualify for Divisionals.
- A shoutout goes to freshman Talia Rech for a nearly 40-second personal best of 12:55.15 in the 2 Mile; that performance qualified her for the League Meet.
Up Next
The MSTCA Division 1 Relays get underway this Thursday, May 15th at Andover High School as the Pole Vault Relay will be competed. The Minutemen had this event circled on the calendar back in December when the team expanded its vault program, and Thursday's competition will be the first opportunity for the vaulters to contribute team points for LHS. Action begins at 3pm.