Big Blue Track and Field Athletes Prepare for Conference, State Championships

Runners take off at the start of a race || Brendan Cassidy

Half a dozen Swampscott High School student athletes finished in first place in their respective events at a track and field meet on January 28 hosted by Marblehead High School.

The boys’ and girls’ teams competed against three teams each. Both teams took home two wins and one loss, defeating Danvers and Saugus while falling to host Marblehead.

The meet served as a final test for the Big Blue before they compete in the Northeast Conference Championships in Boston on Saturday.

Annabelle Averett took home first place in the girls 600-meter race, finishing with a time of 1 minute and 44 seconds. The sophomore crossed the finish line ten seconds before the second place finisher.

Sophomore Annabelle Averett competes in the 600 meter race. || Brendan Cassidy

Swampscott freshman Julianne Sheehan finished just .2 seconds behind the winner in the 1000 meter race, with a time of 3:47.2. Swampscott athletes Ella Priplata and Claire Sachse finished just behind Sheehan in third and fourth.

Mia Tringale, Clara Gosselin, Caitlin Cauley and Kaela Barletta participated in the girls shot put throw, and all four finished in the Top 5 of 14 total participants.

Shot put was also a strength on the boys side for the Big Blue, as Benjamin White and Doyle Delano cleared the competition, finishing in first and second place respectively.

Freshman Lincoln Geaney handily won the boys two-mile run with a time of 10 minutes and 36 seconds. Geaney took the lead as soon as the starting gun sounded and didn’t look back.

Anthony Colella won the 600-meter race with a time of 1:31.1. Simon Ramos won the 1000-meter race and was the only athlete to cross the finish line with a time under three minutes.

The one-mile boys race was dominated by Swampscott athletes. Three competed, and all three crossed the finish line before any of the seven other participants. Simon Brown was first, followed by Atticus Jakious and Ryan Freed.

“Overall, they did well tonight,” said Head Coach Joe Tenney. “I think their event coaches have been getting them well prepared.”

Tenney said the focus is getting the athletes ready for the looming conference and state meets.

“Hoping to get as many kids as we can to the state qualifier,” said Tenney. “I think they are ready for it.”