Mark Perry

Every event in a state championship provides excitement and drama, but this year the relays may decide the team title. But don't expect to see the same line-ups from last week. Some additional fresh legs --courtesy of athletes that did not qualify in an individual event-- may help the common man become the hero. We watched it happen on Sunday at the Division 1 Championships, and those same teams remain in the hunt this week.

Newton North continues to accomplish what is unimaginable to most teams, and this time they may have outdone themselves.  They scored 20 points in the long jump with four different girls contributing to the total.  Most teams would be thrilled to score 20 points in a meet, or have one athlete in the finals of a major division championship.  The depth was on display as a bevy of athletes assumed their role within the program for the greater good of the team.  The entire situation speaks volumes about the character of the athletes and the trust they have in the coaching staff.

Gallagher and Christensen finish 2nd and 3rd at the US Open in New York, while several meet records were shattered at the MSTCA Elite Invitational.

The indoor track season is upon us and it’s time to take a look at the top returners from each event.

Bishop Feehan and Brookline were locked in a heavyweight fight at the MSTCA Twilight, while St. John's rolled to a relatively easy victory at Wachusett.

There is something about racing at night that causes athletes to lose their feel for pace and forces them to run an abnormally fast first mile.  This scenario will force athletes out of their comfort zone early in the race, and will once again separate those pack running squads that thrive on their ability to work together.  The team that maintain their composure in the first mile, and practice patience until the half-way point, will most likely prevail.   

Having Edward Cheserek in the field forces some early decisions for the rest of the front pack.  Do they attempt to go with him?  Do they simply let him go and monitor the next major move from within the chase pack?  One thing is certain, you had better be confident in the strategy you choose and commit to it wholeheartedly. 

Brookline shows their strength at Amherst and Massachusetts teams travel to Rhode Island to sweep the Ocean State Invitational.

The first weekend of traditional format invitationals is upon us, and the state's best programs are scattered across four states as they search for ideal conditions to foster their development.

There’s a pack of at least a dozen runners who have legitimate chances to come away with the gold medal when the state meet returns to Eastern Mass and Franklin Park in November. (Photo by Ron Crocker)

There is no shortage of national caliber talent in the junior class.