South Hadley’s Emma Sanford captures shot put title at MIAA Div. 6 Track & Field Championships (PHOTOS)

By KYLE GRABOWSKI

Staff Writer

Published: 05-27-2023 10:01 PM

WESTFIELD – Emma Sanford proved she can win a state title with her feet firmly planted.

The South Hadley senior typically earns her gold medals flying in the high jump or long jump or levitating over hurdles. A glance at the meet entries told her that wasn’t the path at Saturday’s MIAA Division 6 Track & Field Championships at Westfield State University.

“I only jumped a couple times, anyways, and I have a lot more fun doing shot,” Sanford said.

She picked up the shot a few times a week throughout the season and threw her personal best during Thursday’s pentathlon, which she won. That mark was comparable to the top seed, so even though Sanford was seeded sixth, she didn’t count herself out.

Her final throw in the second flight landed 34 feet, 11.5 inches away, more than a foot clear of the field to win the meet.

“I was surprised, but it also felt very within range,” Sanford said.

Even she’s not quite sure how she did it.

“My technique is horrible. I know it’s bad because we talk about how it’s bad all the time, but I’ve yet to change, which is horrible,” Sanford said. “I think when I’m in a non-pressure situation like now, like it doesn’t matter how I do this is just to have fun, I just calm down.”

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There’s more stress on the 100-meter hurdles, her signature event. Sanford is the defending champion and won the 55-meter distance at the indoor divisional meet, as well. She placed second behind Uxbridge’s Kathryn Cahill (14.85 seconds) on Saturday but still lowered her own South Hadley school record to 14.97 seconds in a silver winning performance.

The divisional winners of events automatically qualify to the Meet of Champions on Thursday and Saturday at Fitchburg State along with anyone else that meets the qualifying standards.

“That was a good race for me. All I wanted to do this season was go under 15 [seconds], which I did,” said Sanford, who will compete for Lehigh next season. “I’m glad I got to race against such great people because I wouldn’t have ran that time if no one was by me.”

Frontier Regional’s Caroline Crocker battled Sanford and Cahill to the line and placed third (15.10). She also took fourth in the long jump (16-9).

“We’ve had a lot of cold meets this year but today was really hot,” Crocker said. “Hot days are always nice and I got a pair of PRs. The 100 hurdles felt like my fastest race. It’s great to compete against other girls who I don’t usually go up against.” 

Frontier’s Aiden Dredge came into the meet with a chip on his shoulder after being seeded fourth in the javelin. 

He made sure to beat the place he started at, with his top toss of 159 feet, four inches good for second place overall. 

“I felt like the underdog coming in,” Dredge said. “I wasn’t even in the podium ranked fourth going in. To jump two spots felt pretty good.” 

The toss was a PR for Dredge, who has managed to better his previous best throw at every meet throughout the season. 

“Every week I had a PR, whether it was a couple inches or one PR that was 12 feet,” Dredge said. “I had to get over a little slump after a hip flexor. I was hesitant and slowing myself down. Once I got over that hump it felt pretty good.” 

Their Redhawk teammate Ayla Starr continued South Deerfield’s strong pole vault tradition with a first-place finish, clearing 10 feet on her final attempt to take sole possession of first place, and the other four competitors were unable to clear the mark. 

“I was in my head at first,” Starr said. “I had my CELSIUS [fitness drink] beforehand which helped. These meets help and it was nice out today which helped. Most schools don’t have pole vaulting so it’s great to have three of us here.” 

Frontier’s Sophia Leone was fourth (9-6) and Gage Calhoun tied for seventh for the Redhawks (8-0).

Erich Brown cleared six feet in the high jump to add another fourth place to the Frontier boys haul.

Easthampton’s BB Tauscher set a school record in the boys 400-meter dash. He placed fifth (51.12)

“At the 200 I was supposed to get 24 for my split then give it everything I had for the last 200,” he said. “We’re still doing improvements, but I’m happy with what I got today.”

Frontier’s Fernando Saravia was close behind him in eighth (51.62).

Saravia also led off the Redhawks sixth-place 4x400 relay squad. He teamed with Ian Burt, Ian Paciorek and Adrien Pazmandy to get across the line in 3:36.9.

The Redhawks’ girls 4x400 relay team of Claire McFarland, Nicole Passe, Madelyn Antes and Abigail Howard took seventh (4:27.13). Hampshire Regional followed them closely in ninth. Keegan Butler, Amelia Hanke, Audrey Perrone and Charlotte Letendre put together a 4:28.72.

Abigail Gelinas of South Hadley took eighth in the girls 100 (12.98). Hampshire Regional junior Jaiden Kudelka was 12th in the boys 100 (11.52).

Staff Writer Tom Johnston contribtued to this report.]]>