NORWELL – While the only question mark regarding Westfield High School senior boys track star Shea Drugan often related to how high he would finish at each competition, the Bomber put an exclamation point on the end of his high school career at the All-State Outdoor Track championships.
Drugan posted two top 10 finishes at the championships June 24-26 at Norwell High School. He placed fourth in the 200-meter dash (22.16) and ninth in the 100-meter preliminaries (11.21).
Westfield’s Shea Drugan dominates the field in the 100-meter dash at the Central-West Division 1 track & field championships at Westfield State University. Drugan enjoyed more success at All-States. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
At the Central-West Sectionals at Westfield State University, Drugan was nearly unbeatable. He captured gold in the 200 meters (22.13) and silver in the 100 meters (10.96).
Drugan’s list of accolades reads like a Top 40 list of music’s greatest hits:
• 10 school records broken this year (55 meter dash, three times; 100 meters, four times; 200 meters, two times, including breaking the meet record at Division 1 Central-West Championship previously held since 2014);
• MassLive Athlete of the week winner;
• 1st Team All Western Mass boys indoor track;
• 2021 Western Mass Outdoor Track Super 7;
• Undefeated in every individual regular season race for indoor and outdoor boys track seasons;
• Division 1 Central-West 200 meters individual champ;
• Division 1 Central-West 100 meters runner-up;
• Qualifying times for the Outdoor Nationals in the 100 meters;
• Only Western Mass sprinter to be seeded top five in two events for the All States Championship;
• And, top 10 finisher in both events at All States (4th, 200 meters; 9th, 100 meters).
Last December, Drugan participated in an open high school meet at Wheaton College, winning the 300-meter dash and drawing the attention of college scouts. He received scholarship offers from Stonehill College, rival Assumption, and New Haven. He accepted the offer from the Stonehill Skyhawks.
“I want to help my school win,” said Drugan, noting Stonehill’s recent struggles in their conference. “They’re bringing in me and some others. I think we can start putting some damage in the standings in the conference there.”
Drugan said track has had a major impact on his life. Drugan overcame the lack of proper training facilities for his sport, the transition of two coaches in a three-year span, and a stoppage due to the pandemic. He became a leader among his teammates, and ultimately, a captain.
“This sport is very different from team sports like soccer and football,” Drugan explained. “There are no nasty rivalries. …This program has taught me to win, but win graciously. You win, you congratulate people. You lose, you have to have that same energy.”
It is that positive attitude that he plans to run with for life.
