Updated May 17
The Vineyarder girls and boys track teams used a combination of veterans and newcomers to dominate the Cape & Island Track Championships Wednesday at Dan McCarthy Field in Oak Bluffs.
The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) girls squad were led by senior Mackenzie Condon’s three event wins, and the boys got three wins from freshman phenom Nick Pecararo. The girls scored 125.5 points in the championship meet. Sturgis East/West was second with 89 points. Freshman Annabelle Biggs won the 200 meter and the long jump, Catherine Cherry won the two-mile, and sophomores Gabby Carr (400 yard dash) and Yayla DeChiara (800 meter) won their events.
The boys prevailed with 118 points over second-place Sturgis East/West with 75 points. Pecararo won the 400 meters (56.71), shot put (46:7.25), and the discus (116-1). Veterans Dash Christy (110m hurdles), Owen Porterfield (mile), and freshman Zack Utz (800m) contributed wins.
What emerges from this effort is the number of names we didn’t know two months ago that are now showing up in the top five spots (for points) and the top 10 for quality finishes. For example, we are not shocked that Owen Porterfield won the mile on Saturday, or that Richie Barlett took second in the javelin — they are proven winners. But performances like Micah Vought and Kyle Rollins finishing fourth and fifth behind him to put up team points — and Pecararo’s career day — get your attention.
Rollins also finished third in the shot behind vets Packer and Barlett, and freshman Riley Sylvia finished 12th. Other freshman names are popping up with increased frequency, including Utz, two-mile phenom Borja Tolay, John Habekost, and Calvin Brooks, along with sophomores like Vought and Owen Atkins on the boys team.
On the girls team, we knew Mackenzie Condon, Catherine Cherry, and Paige Pogue were locks for the winner’s circle, and that veterans Tyla Packish, Ashley Biggs, Molly Carroll, Madia Bellebuono, and Linda Borges would continue to upgrade their games, but who knew underclassmen Yayla DeChiara, Gabby Carr, Maria Clara Lacerda, Ashlei Clarke, Maria Frangos, and Kaitlyn Freeman would show up often and strong in the standings?
In short, MVRHS has a talented bunch, peaking at the right time.
“That’s important. You want to be peaking at the end of the season with an opportunity to work on things like pace and strategy,” Schroeder said this week ahead of statewide competition. The teams will travel to Hingham for the Twilight (Last Chance) meet on Saturday, May 18.
Stay tuned. This bunch is going to be making news for awhile.
