INDIVIDUALS PUT THE STATE ON NOTICE AT WESTON TWILIGHT INVITE
Meet Information
Weston Twilight Invitational
May 4, 2018
Weston High School and Regis College - Weston, MA
RESULTS
WESTON, MA - Saturday night The Minutemen competed under the lights at the Weston Twilight meet. The meet has become a prelude to the All-State meet, featuring top athletes from across the state competing at Weston High School's and Regis College's facilities. A number of Lexington's best had strong performance, but for the ladies no one shined brighter than junior Danna Ofek. Coming into the race with a personal best of 11:25.39 and running against a strong field that included Sheppard Hill's Rebekah James (a top 25 finisher at Indoor Nationals) the LHS harrier was not on anyone's radar to challenge for the win. Unfortunately for the field, no one got that message to Ofek who gave James everything she could handle over the eight-plus laps around the Regis oval. In the end Ofek was edged out by .08 seconds, but her time of 11:07.66 was a huge personal best and certainly put the state on notice that there is a new force to be reckoned with in the distance events. Along with Ofek's breakout performance, fellow classmate Rachel Caldwell-Glixon had a huge personal best of her own in the Long Jump. Coming into the meet with a PR of 16'10.75", the junior popped off her second jump of the competition a whopping 17'7.5". That jump would land her fourth overall in a very talented field, and puts her in position to make some noise of her own come Championship Season.
On the boys side, juniors Yanni Zavaliagkos and Michael Gupta represented the LHS "Bomb Squad" well in the Discus throw. The two finished sixth and seventh respectively, with Zavaliagkos's best throwing flying a personal best 121'1", and Gupta's 118'7" being just shy of his own PR. After Saturday's performance the two have achieved the Middlesex League Championship qualifying standard in both the Shot Put and Discus.
Another performance that needs to be recognized is that of senior captain Joe Tibbles. After suffering a broken ankle at the end of the Indoor Season, Tibbles was a long shot to return to make a serious impact on the Outdoor Season. However, through shear grit and will Tibbles got himself back on the track Saturday night to race his specialty the 400m Intermediate Hurdles. After his blocks slipped out from under him at the start, the senior was still able to blast away from his heat and held a huge lead coming to the seventh hurdle. He cleared the barrier with ease but when he landed his foot burst through the side of his spike and he fell to the track. What was impressive about this was that he did not simply get back to his feet, collect himself and then decide to casually jump the final three hurdles on his way to crossing the line. Tibbles never stopped, never collected himself, and there was no decision to finish the race because the only option in his mind was to tuck-and-roll and try to win the race despite the fall and his foot hanging out of the side of his shoe. While he was not able to take the race, he was able to show his teammates what it means to be hardwired with the heart of a champion
Highlights from Weston High School
Highlights from Regis College
Up Next
The Minutemen return to action Wednesday afternoon for the final dual meet of the season, against Reading. For the boys this will be a chance to clinch their second League Championship of the year, having won the Indoor title already. The meet will be held at Reading Memorial High School and is set to get underway at 4pm.
Weston Twilight Invitational
May 4, 2018
Weston High School and Regis College - Weston, MA
RESULTS
WESTON, MA - Saturday night The Minutemen competed under the lights at the Weston Twilight meet. The meet has become a prelude to the All-State meet, featuring top athletes from across the state competing at Weston High School's and Regis College's facilities. A number of Lexington's best had strong performance, but for the ladies no one shined brighter than junior Danna Ofek. Coming into the race with a personal best of 11:25.39 and running against a strong field that included Sheppard Hill's Rebekah James (a top 25 finisher at Indoor Nationals) the LHS harrier was not on anyone's radar to challenge for the win. Unfortunately for the field, no one got that message to Ofek who gave James everything she could handle over the eight-plus laps around the Regis oval. In the end Ofek was edged out by .08 seconds, but her time of 11:07.66 was a huge personal best and certainly put the state on notice that there is a new force to be reckoned with in the distance events. Along with Ofek's breakout performance, fellow classmate Rachel Caldwell-Glixon had a huge personal best of her own in the Long Jump. Coming into the meet with a PR of 16'10.75", the junior popped off her second jump of the competition a whopping 17'7.5". That jump would land her fourth overall in a very talented field, and puts her in position to make some noise of her own come Championship Season.
On the boys side, juniors Yanni Zavaliagkos and Michael Gupta represented the LHS "Bomb Squad" well in the Discus throw. The two finished sixth and seventh respectively, with Zavaliagkos's best throwing flying a personal best 121'1", and Gupta's 118'7" being just shy of his own PR. After Saturday's performance the two have achieved the Middlesex League Championship qualifying standard in both the Shot Put and Discus.
Another performance that needs to be recognized is that of senior captain Joe Tibbles. After suffering a broken ankle at the end of the Indoor Season, Tibbles was a long shot to return to make a serious impact on the Outdoor Season. However, through shear grit and will Tibbles got himself back on the track Saturday night to race his specialty the 400m Intermediate Hurdles. After his blocks slipped out from under him at the start, the senior was still able to blast away from his heat and held a huge lead coming to the seventh hurdle. He cleared the barrier with ease but when he landed his foot burst through the side of his spike and he fell to the track. What was impressive about this was that he did not simply get back to his feet, collect himself and then decide to casually jump the final three hurdles on his way to crossing the line. Tibbles never stopped, never collected himself, and there was no decision to finish the race because the only option in his mind was to tuck-and-roll and try to win the race despite the fall and his foot hanging out of the side of his shoe. While he was not able to take the race, he was able to show his teammates what it means to be hardwired with the heart of a champion
Highlights from Weston High School
- Senior Kazu Uda-Thach placed fifth in the 200m Dash in a time of 22.55; sophomore Colin Breen was 29th with a PR of 23.87.
- In the Girls 800m junior Lily Sheth ran a PR of 2:23.17 and qualified for the Divisional 1 Championships, while sophomore Lina Jafaar ran a PR of her (2:23.99).
- Not to be outdone, junior Andrew McGovern made his season debut in the Boys 800m by running a PR of 1:56.75 and finishing ninth; sophomore Maxim Slobodchikov was 36th with a PR of 2:03.48.
- McGovern also doubled back to place eighth in the 400m Hurdles (59.29)
- Sophomore Salvador Jaramillo qualified for the Division 1 meet by running 11.53 seconds in the 100m Dash.
- Another ninth place finish was achieved by The Minutemen, this time in the 400m by junior Josh Backert who ran a PR of 50.52.
- Catherine Movsessian qualified for the League meet in the Girls 400m by running 1:02.02.
- The boys 4x200m Relay of Uda-Thach, Breen, Jaramillo, and senior Alex Hiser placed fifth in a season best 1:31.87.
Highlights from Regis College
- In the Mile, junior Pauline Steines ran a PR of 5:24.02 to finish 20th; senior captain Kesinia Sortor was 25th in 5:25.26. Both ladies qualified for Divisionals in the process.
- Sophomore Max DiCerbo (4:37.02) and junior Adam Bernstein (4:38.35) ran PRs in the Mile, finishing 39th and 41st respectively.
- Eli Gappelberg showed that he is returning to form in the 2 Mile by running a season best 9:42.48, finishing ninth and qualifying for Divisionals; junior Matt McAlarney ran a PR (9:57.39), to finish 28th.
- A pair of LHS runners tried their hands at the seldom competed 2000m Steeplechase; arguably the most difficult race in Track & Field its competitors must a clear 23 39-inch barriers including 5 water jumps along their way. Senior Lucas DiCerbo (6:39.27) was 10th, while freshman Evan Eberle (6:58.73) finished 18th overall.
Up Next
The Minutemen return to action Wednesday afternoon for the final dual meet of the season, against Reading. For the boys this will be a chance to clinch their second League Championship of the year, having won the Indoor title already. The meet will be held at Reading Memorial High School and is set to get underway at 4pm.