Girls and Boys Track Race at Boston University for the First Time
February 8, 2023
NESPA Winner: Sports Story, 2022
The Searchlight, Walpole High School, Walpole, MA
For many generations of students, the Walpole Girls and Boys Indoor Track and Field teams have always raced at the Reggie Lewis Center in Roxbury. Hosting both Bay State League Meets during the week as well as invitationals on weekends, the Reggie Lewis Center has stood as a versatile facility for Walpole and other high school teams in Massachusetts. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic comes change. In a typical year, two different leagues would race at the Reggie Lewis Center per day, the first league competing from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and the second league competing from 8:00 p.m. until later in the night. In order to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the Reggie Lewis Center could only allow one league per day, decreasing the amount of meets for every team. Fortunately, while Boston University students were on winter break, the college allowed high school teams to use its facility in place of the Reggie Lewis Center. On Dec. 23, both Walpole girls and boys track teams raced against Weymouth and Milton at Boston University.
The girls team started off strong in the beginning of the night, sweeping the 55m dash against both teams. Lynsey Tashjian took first place, Sarah Schmidt got second and Meri Feener got third. In the 300m race, Walpole girls also swept first, second and third places. Senior mid-distance captain Maggie Mahoney got first, Eliza Lee took second and senior sprints captain Cara King took third.
“I normally run the 55m dash, so when my coaches told me they needed me to run the 300m I was a little nervous due to how different the races are,” King said. “However, when the day of the meet came, I ran a PR (personal record) and placed in third, while other Walpole runners placed first and second giving us nine points against both Milton and Weymouth.”
