SPRINGFIELD – The Westfield High School girls’ track and field team beat the odds, and their nemesis, setting up another sizzling season.
Westfield won the meet’s final relay Wednesday to defeat Central, 73-63. The Bombers were without 17 members from its 42-member squad.
“Other people stepped up and filled in,” said Westfield girls’ track and field coach Linda Rowbotham , noting the absence of several of her team’s top points-getters from last season due to injuries, illness, personal reasons, and a school trip.
“This victory was huge because Central is usually our biggest competition,” the Bombers coach added. “It just goes to show that we have some really dedicated girls, that when needed to step up, stepped up.”
Westfield entered the final event of the day – the 4×400 relay – with a slim lead, 68-63. But the Bombers’ relay team (sophomores Amelia Lund and Kayleigh Florek/freshmen Ellie Dufraine and Kayla Roskey) finished first in 4:40.
Florek (65.7), Dufraine (67.3), and Lund (67.7) also swept the 400-meter run.
Caleigh Rockwell won two events for Westfield, capturing first in the mile (6:19.1) and 800 meters (2:74.4), two events that the Bombers managed to sweep. Abby McCarthy (2:49.6) and Delaney Thomson (2:59.6) were 2-3 in the 800 meters; Jen Gresty (6:35.6) and Rachel Cousins (6:38.6) rounded out the top three in the mile.
In the 2-mile, sophomore Liz Marcyoniak placed first for Westfield in 14:10, followed by Gresty (14.42). Bombers’ Keri Paton set a personal best with a winning javelin throw of 110 feet, 11 inches. Jenna Rothermel won the discus (88-10), and was third in the 100 meters. Ashley Day posted her personal best of 4 feet, 10 inches in the high jump, good for first place.
Westfield sophomore Kiany Roman placed third in the high jump (4-2), and second in both the 100 meters (13.4) and 200 meters (27.4), behind only Central’s top sprinter, Diamente Spencer.
The Bombers also took second and third in the triple jump with Day recording a 27 foot, 8 ½-inch result and Rachel Huntley posting a 26-10.
Westfield’s Julianna Ceccarini and Allie Helliwell posted a second- and third-place finish in the 400 hurdles, respectively, with times of 1:22.5 and 1:26.5. Helliwell also placed third in the 110 high hurdles at 20.2.
Lauren Kidrick was third in discus (75-7).
Posting such impressive results with the team somewhat decimated (for the day) bodes well for Westfield.
“Barring no terrible injuries and being at full strength,” Rowbotham said, “we are poised to win the Valley Wheel (league title) again.”
Westfield will return to action against Cathedral and Chicopee Friday, April 19 at Westfield State University, beginning at 10 a.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Holyoke Catholic 4, St. Mary 1
St. Mary’s Jeanette Peretti played well at first singles, losing to Nathan Drewniak 6-1, 7-5. Saints’ Alison Stanlewicz won at third singles.
