Westfield’s Brenden LaForest sets the bar with a record-setting, first-place run in the boys 300 meters Friday night at the PVIAC Championships at Smith College in Northampton. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
NORTHAMPTON – Westfield High School senior track star Brenden LaForest had two strikes going against him when he opened up competition in the 300 meter race at Friday night’s Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference Indoor Track Championships at Smith College.
For starters, LaForest did not get the lane he wanted to start in, so much of his competition was behind him. Then, with that weighing on him mentally, his mind was outracing his body.
“I didn’t have much to chase so my start was a little bit slower than I wanted to,” LaForest said. “That gave me a little bit of worry.”
If the senior Bomber was worried, he did not show it. Once LaForest came around the bend, he set the track ablaze.
“I knew when I went around the corner, I’d make up that time,” he said. “Today I was shooting for the school record so I just knew I had to run faster than I’ve run before. I had some tough competition today so I tried getting to that break as fast as I could.”
LaForest set a new school record in the 300 with a first-place time of 36.08. He finished just ahead of Amherst-Pelham’s Kai Bailin (36.46).
Cole Lavalle, of Northampton was third in 36.57.
LaForest said he overcame any doubts and struggles with continued improvement during practice sessions.
“I made it happen and I finished strong,” he said.
LaForest said he has been running the 300 meters to primarily train for the outdoor track season, and more specifically the 400.
As a team, Westfield finished eighth overall. South Hadley won the PVIAC championship. Northampton was runner-up.
Westfield’s Brian Rawson finished 17th (41.30). Bombers’ junior Samir Ghalayini placed sixth in the 55 meter hurdles (8.68).
Westfield sophomore Catherine Bean posted impressive results in the girls competition, logging record-setting top five finishes in the 300 meters (4th, 42.84) and 55 meter dash (5th, 7.57). Bombers’ sophomore Nina Prenosil placed fifth in the 600 meters (1:45.59).
Southwick senior Brittany Penland recorded a fourth-place throw in the shot put of 32 feet, 4 inches.
In the team competition, Northampton and Amherst placed 1-2. Westfield was 12th.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Rams upend Indians
Southwick 65, Ware 57
Dan Scharmann made five 3-pointers in a 24-point outing, Connor Roy scored 16 points, and Cade Billings added 12 to fuel an impressive key victory over 15-1 Ware.
Southwick held Ware to just three points in the third quarter.
“It was our biggest win of the season by far,” said Southwick coach Peter Fiorentino, whose team kept its playoff hopes alive at 9-9.
Bombers turn back Spartans
Westfield 66, East Longmeadow 54
Tony Torres (16 points), Riley Coughlin (12), and Chris Barber (10) led the Westfield offense.
Collins, Lamirande lead Saints
Duggan Academy 80, St. Mary 41
Brady Collins and Jack Lamirande led St. Mary with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
