North Reading Track Chasing Another Sweep

In January, North Reading swept the Division 5 relays, winning the girls' crown outright while sharing the boys' title with Oakmont. It's a new month but with the same goal, dominating Division 5. Friday at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston the Hornets will chase a sweep again in an event that's more focused on top talent than team depth.

If the seeds mean anything, and they usually do, North Reading has a good shot. For the boys, senior George Giunta leads things off as the eighth seed in the 55 hurdles at 8.21. Giunta is also the 13th seed in the 55 at 6.93. In the tightly packed 300, senior Jenson Kaithamattam is the 16th seed at 38.51. In the 600, senior Tom Helms is the sixth seed at 1:26.10.

In the field events, senior Vitaliy Andrusyshyn is the fifth seed in the shot put at 45-6.5. Senior Antonio Catino is the 10th seed in the high jump at 5-10. Catino is also the 13th seed in the long jump at 19-3. In the relays, North Reading is the third seed in the 4 x 400, 23rd in the 4 x 800, and 9th in the 4 x 200.

For the girls, junior Margaret McCarthy is the 13th seed in the 55 hurdles in 9.52. Junior Rachel Hill is the 10th seed in the 55 dash in 7.69. A pair of Hornets are among the top seeds in the 600 with Grace Hadley seeded 13th in 1:45.39 and Olivia Esposito 14th in 1:46.16. In a competitive 1,000, junior Meredith Griffin is seeded sixth in 3:06.24. Griffin is also seeded fourth in the mile in 5:20.43 and seventh in the two-mile at 11.51.34. Sophomore Kerry O'Brien has a shot at the high jump crown, seeded fourth at 5-2. In the long jump another Hornet could come out on top with Juliette Nadeau seeded second at 17-6.

In the relays, North Reading is seeded third in the 4 x 200, eighth in the 4 x 400, and 11th in the 4 x 800.

Last year at this meet the North Reading girls finished sixth, the boys eighth.