FITCHBURG — A disappointing fifth-place end within the 200 on the opening day of the Meet of Champions wasn’t about to rattle a perennial winner like Cambridge’s Kylee Bernard in Saturday’s chilly meet finale.
The defending champion within the 400, Bernard went up towards a deep, expertise subject and left no query in regards to the end. Bernard went to her arms down the ultimate straightaway and powered to the tape in a quick time of 56.38 seconds. Bernard left runner-up Ali Murphy of Norton greater than a second behind (56.42) on the best way to placing an exclamation mark on her second consecutive title after ending third as a sophomore.
“It was really important (to win),” mentioned Bernard, who will compete at Boston College. “The 400 is my favorite event and it’s super emotional repeating and going out with a bang.”
Bernard confirmed her championship make-up as she shrugged off the uncharacteristic off-day within the 200. “One race doesn’t define who you and you can always get better,” she mentioned. “My goal at nationals is to break 55 seconds.”
Amelia Everett of Newton South additional cemented her spectacular resume with scary ease within the mile. Coming off a profitable protection of the 800 on Thursday, the sturdy, smooth-striding Everett star seemed completely calm within the breezy, 48-degree chill.
Everett, who ran a private better of 4:47 earlier this season, glided in the direction of the entrance after the primary lap and had a gear nobody may match over the ultimate 400, surging throughout the end line in 4:54.02. Charlotte Tuxbury of Wellesley ran the race of her life as she broke her private greatest by two seconds to take the silver medal in 4:55.89. Dana Lehr of Belmont additionally dipped below 5-minutes together with her 4:56.81.
“The heat took something out of me on Thursday, but I much prefer this weather,” mentioned the personable Lion star in successful her third consecutive mile title and can compete at nationals in two weeks. “I knew it was going to be a good fast field.”
Everett is assured she nonetheless has sooner occasions to run on the nationwide stage earlier than heading to Stanford University within the fall. “I ran 4:47 and I’ve only gotten fitter since,” she mentioned.
Nathan Lopez accomplished his 2-mile/mile double by pulling away from the pack and pushing onerous down the ultimate straightaway for the win in 4:12.99. The St. John’s Prep star broke Alberto Salazar’s meet report in an emotional 2-mile race on Thursday in 8:59.29, his third consecutive state title on the distance.
“I felt alright — not as good as I hoped,” mentioned the University of Michigan-bound Lopez after his mile win. “I’m happy to get the double. It didn’t go as I hoped. I came in knowing I had the fastest time in the field and just let it rip. I really wanted it bad. It’s pretty satisfying (winning both). It’s been the goal all season.”
Bishop Stang’s terrific shot-putter, Jacob Cookinham, was his normal dominant self as he defended his title within the circle, successful by greater than seven toes with a heave of 65-8. Before Cookinham heads to the University of Kansas, he’ll compete at subsequent Saturday’s New England Championships in Bangor, Maine, after which the nationals.
Cookinham made some slight technical changes due to the drizzle and chilly, however nobody within the subject may come shut. “I took some speed and intensity off,” he mentioned. “It’s exciting to be a state champion. It would have been nice to throw in the hot weather. I’ve had such a great time competing these four years.”
The chilly actually affected the 400 race, nevertheless it didn’t maintain Malden’s Johnny Emmanuel from dwelling as much as his prime seed and successful in 49.32. Emmanuel, who ran a scorching 46.99 to interrupt the state report on the Div. 1 Championships, mentioned he a lot most well-liked racing in hotter situations. “It was very cold,” he mentioned. “I was pretty slow but I’m happy I won.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com