HOLYOKE — Something about the 400-meter dash suits the Northampton boys track and field team.

The Blue Devils took three out of the top five spots in the event and four of the top eight at Friday’s District F & G Division 1 Championship at Holyoke High School.

“We breed quarter-milers,” Northampton coach Brandon Palmer said.

Cole Lavalle was first in 50.46 seconds, Ethan Cooper finished third at 51.33, Patrick Quinlan took fifth in 51.70 and Christian Hodgeson was seventh at 51.81 to total 25 points.

“It’s amazing before the race even starts to look down and see a bunch of Northampton kids,” Lavalle said. “You just know this is going to be big.”

The Blue Devils won the meet title with 120 points. Amherst was second with 74.

“We kind of knew before the meet ended that we already won, but it’s amazing to hear ‘Northampton first place,’” said Lavalle, who also won the 400-meter hurdles in 58.58.

Northampton’s 4x400 relay team of Eben Saveson, Hodgeson, Cooper and Quinlan took first in 3:31.34.

“I’ve got a lot of young guys out there doing it,” Palmer said.

Nik Smith held up his end in the sprint events. He won the 100 at 10.86 and the 200 in 21.61.

“I think I’m naturally better at the 200, but I like the pressure of the 100,” Smith said. “I like that aspect that every step matters.”

Smith, who will sprint for Boston University next year, missed the meet last season to attend his sister’s graduation.

“I’ve taken so many runners-up in my high school career, and now to finish the season with indoor and outdoor (titles) it means a lot to me,” he said. “It bodes well for the future.”

Benjamin Gordon-Sniffen, a sophomore, took second in the 2-mile in 10:02.76 for Hamp.

Amherst finished second despite bringing only 15 athletes to the meet.

“I think that’s a helluva job,” Hurricanes coach David Thompson said.

Meikkel Murray won the triple jump, leaping 45 feet, 3¾ inches. He had only been jumping for two weeks before that. Longmeadow’s Matt Sambor was second at 42-2.

“He’s an athlete. It took a couple times to work the technique with him,” Thompson said. “All he had to do was come out and jump. There’s lots of power for him.”

Amherst’s Zack Ellis threw the javelin 161-4 to finish first by nearly seven inches.

Jack Yanko took first in the mile at 4:41.65. He also ran on Amherst’s winning 4x800 team with Aiden Shea, Julian Fischer Frank and Andre Shepard (8:17.19). It was more than five seconds faster than second-place Holyoke.

Shepard finished behind Smith in the 200 (22.39).

Belchertown was 15th with 12 points.

Joel Wyzik took fifth in the discus at 110-5, and Abeiku Yankson was fifth in the 100 in 11.51.

Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com

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