North Reading Track Impressive At State Meet

On state champion, two top-five finishes and numerous great performances highlighted North Reading's trip to the Reggie Lewis Center Friday for the Division 5 state track championship.

The girls finished in a tie for third in the team championship with Oakmont and Cape Ann rival Amesbury while the boys finished fourth, just ahead of CAL rival Lynnfield.

The star of the day was Juliette Nadeau, who won the long jump with a distance of 17-6.75. The junior edged last year's defending champion Alyssa Zee of Ashland by a half inch.

Other girls who did well included junior Rachel Hill (8th in 55 meters in 7.61), sophomore Grace Hadley (6th in the 600, 1:42.98), junior Meredith Griffin (4th in the mile, 5:16.45), freshman Lindsay MacLellan (9th in 2-mile, 12:21.05), junior Margaret McCarthy (55 hurdles in 9.37), and junior Emily Roesch (3rd in high jump, 4-10).

North Reading also finished sixth in the 4 x 200 (1:51.49), sixth in the 4 x 400 (4:20.36), and seventh in the 4 x 800 (10:32.26).

The boys didn't have any individual champions but they did have plenty of top performances to finish fourth, behind Oakmont, Newburyport, and champion Old Rochester.

Senior Tom Helms finished second in the 600 in 1:23.96 and senior Antonio Catino was seventh in the 55 hurdles in 8.30. Catino also took fourth in the long jump in 19-9.5 and teammate Liam Rutherford was seventh in 19-4.5. Senior Vitaliy Andrusyshyn was fifth in the shot put in 45-8.75.

In the relays, North Reading was third in the 4 x 200 (1:36.19) and sixth in the 4 x 400 (3:41.19).

Next up for the Hornets is the All-State meet on Sunday, Feb. 26.