Panther Track Teams Sweep Medway

The Holliston boys and girls track and field teams both emerged victorious Thursday afternoon at home as the two squads defeated visiting Tri-Valley League rival Medway in their respective meets.

The Panther boys rolled to a 77-59 win to improve to 3-3 with their second straight triumph. Meanwhile, the Holliston girls (2-4) earned a 72-63 victory to snap a four-meet losing streak.

Several Panther athletes will compete in the Weston Twilight Invitational at 4 p.m. on Saturday before returning to TVL action at Bellingham on Monday (3:45 p.m.).

Thursday's weather was maddeningly inconsistent, at times sunny with a breeze and at others points cold and rainy, but that didn’t stop the Panthers from delivering strong and focused performances throughout the day.

“It (the weather) didn’t affect the overall outcome of the meet but it did affect some of the individual performances," said boys coach Tom Hilliard. "Right at the start of the 800 (meters), a swell came through, and you could see on the time sheet that all the times were down, but it didn’t affect the overall meet in terms of the final score. Medway’s a great program, take nothing from them, but we earned the win.”

Sprinter Zach Snow led the boys with wins in the 200- and 400-meter dashes. Holliston also gained key points from Josh Mclinden and Jimmy Kraus in the high hurdles event, with the pair taking first and second place, respectively. Kraus, who broke his collarbone early in the season, was running in his first hurdles race of the season.

For Hilliard, Thursday's win was another step toward ending the season above the .500 mark.

“[(The season) started off slow, we had a lot of people injured, but its getting there," said Hilliard. "We started off 1-3, now we’re 3-3 with an unfinished match that we were winning (with Dover-Sherbon, which will be made up at a date to be announced). We’re still not completely healthy, there are some key varsity performers that have been out, but are now gradually coming back. Again, we’re getting there.”

Meanwhile, girls coach Mike Kelley had plenty to be proud about himself as his Panthers snapped a four-meet losing streak.

Junior Steph Paolillo was one of three double-winners, taking the 400-meter hurdles in 77 seconds before claiming the 100 hurdles in a season-best of 17.7 seconds.

Fellow juniors Briana Crowley and Rachel Everett also won two events, as Crowley captured the 100-meter dash (13.4) and long jump (14-9), while Everett took the high jump (4 feet, 8 inches) and 400 meters (69.1). Crowley also anchored the 4x100-meter relay team to victory in 55.0 seconds, as she was joined by Caroline Clancy, Morgan McKunes, and Meridith McKunes.

Vicki Palmatier remained undefeated in the shot put and also took second in discus. Missy Westland picked up a third place in javelin, as Medway scored most of its points in the field events.

Morgan McKunes also added a third place in the long jump, clearing 14-6. Everett’s win in the high jump was part of a sweep, as fellow junior Rachel Dinehart was second at 4-6, edging senior Kendra Costello (4-6) on fewer misses. Dinehart was also third in the 400 at 70.7.

Distance runners shined, as the 800 meters saw Kaylee Kozubal make quick work of the field for another win (two minutes, 34 seconds), and another junior, Bri Bergen, edged Medway’s best runner at the line to take second in 2:41. Senior Lizzy Gabour took off with 800 meters to go in the 2-mile to win in 13:52, covering her last lap in 91 seconds (12:08 pace) to win by 14 seconds after trailing at the mile.

Diane Waterman picked up third places in both the 400 hurdles (85 seconds) and triple jump (25-11), while Meridith McKunes won by one-tenth of a second in the 200, finishing in 29.0 seconds.