37 MetroWest high school athletes to watch at the MIAA track & field state championships
While most of the nation will be having a relaxing Memorial Day weekend, the best track and field athletes in Massachusetts will be competing for state championships.
The divisional state meets will be held from Thursday to Sunday as two-day events at Westfield State, Bridgewater State and Merrimack.
Here's 37 MetroWest and Milford-area athletes to watch. The list is brimming with defending champions, college commits and top seeds.
MATTHEW ACQUAH, Natick
He has the top mark in the Division 1 boys triple jump at 47 feet, 3 inches. That's more than two feet clear of the field.
QUINN ANDERSON, Westborough
The reigning Gatorade state volleyball player of the year is the No. 2 seed in the Division 3 girls high jump at 5-4. She'll also compete in the shot put as the No. 17 seed.
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HALEY BILODEAU, Blackstone Valley Tech
She holds the top mark in the Division 3 400-meter hurdles at 63.28, more than four seconds faster than the field.
MARGARET BOWLES, Dover-Sherborn
The senior is seeded third in the Division 5 girls two-mile (11:33.04) and sixth in the mile (5:25.93).
CHRISTOPHER BROOKS, Wellesley
After a blistering indoor season, the William & Mary-bound senior is in line for a Division 2 sprint double. He has the top mark in both the 100 (10.73) and 200 (21.2).
Boys 55m
1. Christopher brooks, @wellesleysports 6.42 🥇 pic.twitter.com/dRDVUHnoAi— Kyle Grabowski (@kylegrbwsk) February 24, 2024
OLIVIA CARNEY, Bellingham
She'll challenge for the title in both Division 4 girls sprints. Carney is seeded second in the 100 (12.32), just .02 out of first, and tied for second in the 200 (25.54).
ALEX CHAN, Westborough
Really any Westborough pole vaulter, but he tops the horde (and Division 3) at 13 feet, 6 inches. The top four seeds are rangers, and they're projected to take five out of the top six spots.
ANNIE COMELLA, Wellesley
She has the top mark in the Division 2 100 (12.34) and 200 (25.34) and ranks No. 2 in the long jump (18-10.5).
EBEN CONSIGLI, Nipmuc
He's the No. 2 seed in the Division 5 boys discus (161-01).
IMANI CURRAN & KATELYN WINCHESTER, Westborough
The Rangers hold the top three seeds in the Division 3 girls pole vault. Curran, a sophomore, and Winchester, a senior, have both been over 10 feet this season to tie for the top seed.
AVERIE DENELLE, Tri-County
She won the Division 5 high jump indoors and is tied for the top mark at the outdoor Division 4 championship at 5-6.
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ABBY DESMARAIS, Framingham
The Holy Cross-bound senior holds the top mark in the girls Division 1 100-meter dash at 12.04 seconds. The Flyers are also the top seed in the 4x400 relay with her as the anchor (3:58.54).
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LILY DeFORGE, Franklin
The senior holds top three seeds in both the discus and shot put. She's third in both at 119-06 in the discus and 40-06.5 in the shot put. Deforge also has the NO. 8 seed in the javelin (99-5.25).
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SARAH DUMAS, Franklin
She's the defending all-state champion and the No. 1 seed in the Division 1 pentathlon. The All-American is also the top seed in the 400-meter hurdles at 1:01.88, nearly five seconds away from the rest of the entrants, and No. 2 in the 100 hurdles (14.79).
Girls 55m dash
3. Abby Desmarais, Framingham 7.08
4. Annie Donell’s, @wellesleysports 7.14
7. Emmanuella edozien, @NatickAthletics 7.28 pic.twitter.com/GIau9UMizd— Kyle Grabowski (@kylegrbwsk) February 24, 2024
EMMANUELLA EDOZIEN, Natick
She is the top seed in the girls Division 1 100-meter hurdles at 14.66 seconds. Edozien is also No. 2 in the girls 100 (12.32).
SAVANNAH GAO, Hudson
The two-time defending champion in the Division 5 javelin is headed to Boston University in the fall. She'll go for a three-peat as the top seed at 133-2.5. Gao is also the No. 3 seed in the discus (111-11).
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SEBASTIAN GRILLO, Westborough
He's in position for two Division 3 medals, seeded third in both the shot put (50-8) and discus (159-10).
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CAITLIN HEUS-SMITH, Wayland
She has the No. 2 seed in the Division 4 girls triple jump at 36-0.5 Heus-Smith is also seeded sixth in the long jump (17-6.5).
ELIZABETH HOPKINS, Franklin
The defending Meet of Champions gold medalist in the girls javelin is the top seed in Division 1 at 139-06.
CHARITY JOHNSON, Medway
The senior can own the static throws at the Division 5 meet. She's the discus top seed at 132-09 and fifth in the shot put (35-9.25).
KENNETH KALVINEK, Blackstone Valley Tech
He could leave the Division 3 meet with multiple medals as the No. 2 seed in the discus (163-02) and No. 4 in the shot put (50-7).
RACHAEL KOROWSKI, Hudson
She's a podium threat in the Division 5 middle distance. The Stonehill-bound senior holds the No. 4 seed in the 800 (2:24.82) and mile (5:24.57).
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MAGGIE KUCHMAN & ANNABELLE LYNCH, Holliston
The Panthers claimed a Division 4 indoor state title and could make distance headway outdoors. Lynch is the No. 2 seed in the two mile (11:10.67), third in the 800 (2:20.05) and sixth in the mile (5:15.4). Kuchman, meanwhile, is No. 1 in the 800 (2:18.25) and has the fifth seed in the mile (5:14.64) and two-mile (5:14.64). They'll both contribute to Holliston's second-seeded 4x800 relay (9:56.52).
OLIVIA LaBELLE, Algonquin
She's a threat in both Division 2 girls hurdles events with the top seed in both the 100 hurdles (15.58) and 400 hurdles (1:03.45). Labelle also holds the No. 2 mark in the pole vault (9-6). The Titans also hold the No. 1 seed in the 4x100 relay.
BRIAN McGRATH, Medway
He is the No. 2 seed in the Division 5 pentathlon and will compete in the 110 hurdles.
ELI MERRITT, Wellesley
He'll be a threat in the Division 2 middle distance events. Merritt holds the No. 2 seed in the mile (4:19.91) and No. 3 in the 800 (1:58.54). The Raiders also have the top mark in the boys 4x800 relay.
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HARRY MILLAR, Hopkinton
He has the No. 2 seed in the Division 2 boys 110 hurdles (14.78) and is No. 9 in the 400 hurdles (58.62).
BEN PARSON, Milford
He's a threat in both the Division 3 400 (50.22), where he's the No. 2 seed, and the 200 as the No. 5 seed (22.34).
GABRIELLE PIERRE, Lincoln-Sudbury
She won the indoor long jump state title and holds the top outdoor mark in Division 1 triple jump at 41 feet and long jump at 18-6.75.
PARKER ROGERS, Marlborough
His 176-08 discus throw leads the Division 4 boys field and is nearly 12 feet longer than anyone else.
BROOKE SCOTT, Medway
She'll be a sprint threat at the girls Division 5 meet seeded first in the 100 at 12.3 seconds.
BENOIT SKILTON, Algonquin
He's pole vaulted over 13 feet and is the No. 1 threat in Division 2.
LOGAN SULLIVAN, Hopkinton
He has cleared 6-foot-4 to earn the Division 2 boys high jump top seed.
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REGAN SULLIVAN, Westborough
The junior is the No. 2 seed in the Division 2 girls pentathlon.
CHARLOTTE TUXBURY, Wellesley
She ruled the distance events indoors with two all-state titles and is looking to take that endurance outdoors. Tuxbury has the top seed in the Division 2 mile (4:53.38) and two-mile (10:57.94). The Raiders are also the team everyone is chasing in the 4x800 relay (9:33.65).
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: MetroWest athletes to watch at the MIAA track & field state meets