HINGHAM — Amherst’s distance relays always show up when they get to compete on the biggest stages, and their 4x800-meter team did it again on Sunday at the Division 4 state championships at Notre Dame Academy. 

The quartet of Nico Lisle, Miguel Pinero-Jacome, Diego Lopez and David Pinero-Jacome joined forces to win a state title in the 4x800 relay, crossing the line in 8:05.27, a full 23 seconds faster than their seed time. 

“I think once you have the right competition, it really brings out your potential. So we all kind of realized that, we always shoot for the larger meets so people will push us along,” Lopez said. 

Lisle gave the Hurricanes a big lead on the opening leg and each runner after built upon it; as much as Amherst wanted teams to run with, the ’Canes were all alone up front from start to finish. 

“I know we were shooting for first place. And seeing everybody doing the job, doing it really well, gave me a lot of confidence that I could do it as well, Lopez said. “I was very happy with it.”

Alfandari claims runner-up title

After winning the Division 4 state title in the discus on Friday, Amherst’s Logan Alfandari decided he wasn’t quite done collecting hardware this season. 

The sophomore finished as the runner-up in the shot put on Sunday afternoon, qualifying for All-States in both the discus and shot put. Though he had some difficulties during the event, dealing with the heat and some technical issues, he still managed to come away with a 49-9.75 throw to clinch second place. 

“Everything was pretty much the same as my other throws, I just managed to line up that finish to get some more power behind it,” Alfandari said on his second-place throw. “I feel like (the weekend) was a success. I get to go to All-States for both events.” 

Sullivan leaps for record

Freshman Allie Sullivan continued her high jump success on Sunday, clearing 5 feet, 2 inches to tie for second place. 

It was a personal best for Sullivan, and the jump also was a personal victory too – it tied the Northampton school record in the high jump, currently held by her older sister Kate, and several others. 

“I just really wanted to clear 5-2 – I really wanted to PR,” Sullivan said. “That’s been something I’ve been working towards all season, so I’m really glad I (got it).” 

Threes wild for Brewer 

Another Northampton underclassman, Camilla Brewer, continued her success on Sunday afternoon with two more podium finishes. 

Brewer hit personal bests in both the long jump and 100 hurdles, finishing seventh in the hurdles (16.50) and leaping to a seventh place finish in the long jump (16-9.75) by just a quarter inch. 

The sophomore won the triple jump on Friday, thanks in part to improving her jumping technique. She carried that over into Sunday in the long jump. But her hurdle success was part hard work, part fate.

Athletes need speed and technique for the hurdles, but what also matters is how many steps they take in between hurdles. Taking fewer steps means less time wasted approaching the jump, and ‘three-stepping’ was something Brewer was thinking about on Sunday. 

“I hadn’t three-stepped this season at all – I think I three-stepped one meet in March or April,” Brewer said. “But I had a 333 (race bib), and I was in lane three, heat three (for prelims), so I (thought) I should three-step. So I went for it,” Brewer said. “I manged to three-step every hurdle in the final.” 

Other results 

Elizabeth Sawicki from Amherst just started pole vaulting this season, but her hard work paid off with a fifth-place finish at the Division 4 states meet. Sawicki tied for fifth place, clearing eight feet and nearly getting over 8-6 but clipping the bar with her elbow. She also just missed the finals in the 100 hurdles, placing 12th with a time of 17.45. 

Northampton’s girls 4x800 team of Norah Reade, Anna Zamer, Tess Geis-Benton and Maeve O’Neil placed fifth (10:15.97) in the relay to earn a medal while the boy’s 4x800 team of Davis Wheat, Jude Mourad, Teddy King-Pollet and Jack Kamins placed sixth (8:27.96). 

Northampton’s Jack Kamins placed 11th in the mile with a time of 4:32.80. 

In the javelin throw, Davis Wheat secured 12th place overall with a throw of 133-0. On the girl’s side, Monica Fisher-Piccininno took 14th with a throw of 88-2. 

Amherst’s Inigo de los Reyes finished 13th in the 400 run with a 52.35 time. 

Courtnegail Rose also placed 13th in her event on Sunday, throwing the shot put 29-7 for the ’Canes. 

Juan Jose Adams-Causton ran a 23.62 in the 200 meter prelims to finish 14th overall for the Blue Devils. 

Kira French placed 16th in the 400 dash, crossing the line in 1:02.92. 

Division 5 Saturday results

A few members of the Belchertown track and field team competed in the second day of the Division 5 state championships on Saturday, with one of them coming away with another medal to add to his collection. 

Senior Aidan Clancy finished sixth in the 100 meter dash finals with a time of 11.23, leaning at the line to edge out Randolph’s Mekhi White and John Morgan by one and two hundredths of a second, respectively.

The boys 4x800 meter team of Noah Les, Carter Masse, Liam Howard and Benjamin Les placed 13th with a time of 9:11.62. 

Peter Elias also placed 18th in the javelin with a throw of 134-1.   

Hannah Bevis can be reached at hbevis@gazettenet.com. Follow her on Twitter @Hannah_Bevis1]]>