Reading Track Athletes Shine at Invitational Meets
(5-7 minute read)
Finn Johnson-Houlihan sets school record in the two-mile
This past Saturday, May 9th, the Reading track teams once again braved rain and cold conditions to showcase their skills. The Rockets competed in three invitational meets: Andover Boosters, Weston Twilight, and Jim Hoar Freshman Sophomore. Despite the weather, many runners achieved new season bests and personal bests. In addition, some Rockets returned home with new hardware, as any athlete finishing in the top eight receives a medal. Finally, Finn Johnson-Houlihan broke his own school record in the two-mile and, in the process, put up the 11th fastest time in the state this season. See below for summaries of each meet.
Reading Track has its one and only home track meet up next on May 11th against Woburn.
Andover Boosters Invitational
Eleven members of Reading’s girls’ track team and two of the boys’ field athletes participated in the Andover Boosters Invitational on Saturday. Below is a list of Reading athletes who had podium finishes:
First place:
Luke Rogerson - Javelin (167-05)
Second place
Kamryn Encarnacao - 200m (26.20) - season’s best and 27th fastest time in the state, all Divisions, this year
Levi Emmanuel - high jump (6-00.00)
Isabelle Lightbody - triple jump (35-11.50)
Girls 4x100 (Bowers, Grady, Encarnacao, Savio) - (51.55) - qualifies for Division 3 state championships
Third place
Danielle Bowers - triple jump (34-10.50)
Fourth place
Girls 4x800 (Goodwin, Branson, Juffre, Healy) - (11:10.80)
Fifth place
Isabelle Lightbody - long jump (17-04.50) - season’s best and 29th farthest jump in the state, all Divisions, this year
Sixth place
Tessa Rock - 400m (1:02.75)
Seventh place
Hannah Kenton - 400m (1:03.84)
Weston Twilight Invitational
Reading’s boys’ distance teams went to the Regis College site of Weston Twilight to test their mettle against some of the best in the state. The rain and cold did not bother the competitors, as every event contested that day (800m, one-mile, two-mile, 5000m, 2000m steeplechase) saw more than 10 runners set personal bests.
Junior Max King and senior Cameron Gigler participated in the mile, with King finishing 21st (4:32.96) and Gigler 51st (4:44.26). Juniors Finn Johnson-Houlihan and Andrew Princic competed in the two-mile, with Johnson-Houlihan finishing 10th (9:25.07) and Princic 46th (9:57.47). Johnson-Houlihan’s time was not only his personal best and beat his own school record, but it was also the 11th fastest two-mile time in the state this year and the 81st fastest time in the country.
Jim Hoar Freshman Sophomore Invitational
The Jim Hoar Freshman Sophomore Invitational allows top 9th and 10th-graders to compete at a high level without being matched up against more experienced upperclassmen. It is also a great opportunity to get a feel for what big invitational meets feel like. Dozens of Rockets got the chance to participate this year, with multiple personal bests and a handful of medal winners.
Below is a list of Reading athletes who had podium finishes:
Second place
Ryan Audley - triple jump (43-02.50) - personal best and 32nd farthest jump in the state, all Divisions, this year, and qualifies for Division 3 state championships
Third place
Annabelle Repucci - long jump (17-00.75)
Fifth place
Boys 4x400 (Millerick, Demers, Whitehouse, Carreiro) - (3:42.90)
Seventh place
Girls 4x100 (DeMarco, Neth, Prato, Taubman) - (54.47)
Eighth place
Harrison Farnum - shot put (40-04.00) - personal best