Balanced Effort Jolts Rockets to State Title

The Reading boys track team visited the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, and brought back the ultimate souvenir.

Thanks to a balanced effort throughout their lineup, the Rockets racked up 49 points to distance themselves from North Attleborough and snag the Division 2 championship.

JD Greenfield got things started right with a victory in the 600-meter run in a time of 1:23.79. Ryan Maney qualified fourth in the boys 55-meter hurdles, but bounced back to win in the final race with a time of 7.81 seconds.

Reading’s success continued into the relay events as the 4x200 team of Robert Federico, Ryan Maney, Dorian Johnson and Aaron LeLacheur finished in 1:33.28 to grab third place and six points for the team.

The Rocket 4x400 meter team of Federico, Greenfield, LeLacheur and Tristan Barros won the event with a time of 3:27.68, taking home 10 points with them. In the 4x800 relay, Reading snatched up three points with a sixth place finish.

Federico and Maney finished in sixth and seventh in the long jump to combine for five points while Peter Fodera earned five points with a fourth place result in the shot put.

“(The championship) manifests that our 21st century philosophy is working,” said head coach Hal Croft, who has been involved in the program for 42 years. “Aren't all teams a blend of individual and team endeavors? Track is the original sport, evolved from the basic instincts of humans.”

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