L-S Girls Track Team Second to One at All-State Meet

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was submitted to Sudbury Patch.)

Marika Crowe won the 1000M in 2:55.95 and anchored the winning Lincoln-Sudbury girls 4x800 team relay (9:23.14) to lead the Warriors to a second-place finish at the All-State Track & Field Championship at Reggie Center on Sunday. State girls champion Newton North finished with 41 points while L-S finished with 28 points.

Crowe was all smiles after her race, “This is a huge relief, I’ve been really nervous for the 1000 race for a long time. This past week was our break, so I was just thinking about it a lot. I’m not used to being the favorite, but I was definitely looking to win and I’m glad I was able to help the team.”

An exhuberant L-S girls coach Henry Phelan was thrilled with his team’s surprise second-place finish.

“After graduating Andrea Keklak and Lauren Ready, I didn’t think we were going to be able to do this well,” he said. “But the girls on our team really worked hard this winter and ran well when it mattered, which is at the end of the season. We had some great efforts today. I’m thrilled.”

Continuing a tradition of excellence, the Warriors 4x800 relay won the All-State title for the eighth consecutive track season (indoor and outdoor). Meri Kohler ran the opening leg in a crowded field of 14 entries overcoming an accidental trip by an opposing runner. Brianna Bisson ran a strong second leg passing seven runners to hand off to Madison Acton who powered past the remaining 3 teams setting the stage for Crowe.  

“When I got the baton, Coach Phelan told me not to pass everybody in one lap, so for me, each lap I just wanted to get through the turns and then pass people on the straightaways,” she said. Acton also ran the 600M in 1:34.94 to claim fourth place while senior Leah Potter claimed sixth in the high jump (5-foot-2).

The L-S girls 4x800 relay team will move on to this Friday’s New England Championships, also being held at the Reggie Center.