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Eastern Mass Boys Predictions ! Mike Miller Nov 08, 2012

Coach Miller made his predictions known in August for the upcoming fall season, and while he nailed his share, boy was he off on a few. The burly coach revisits his predictions in this divisional meet preview and points out what he hit on, what he missed on, and where he wasn't even in the ballpark of. Next up is the boys of Eastern Mass..

Central Mass Predictions ! Mike Miller Nov 07, 2012

Western Mass Predictions ! Mike Miller Nov 06, 2012

Girls League Championship Roundup Mike Miller Oct 28, 2012

Mike Miller recaps some of this weekends League Championship Meets. Milesplit Mass will do our best to recap as much as possible, but please be patient as we will release stuff throughout the day.

Weekend Roundup: Brown, Bay State Invitational Take Center Stage Mike Miller Oct 21, 2012

Every three years, when the All State Meet heads West to Northfield, the MSTCA puts on an invite there to get runners accustomed to the steep climb of the early portion of the race. Some simply put their head down and find a way through the hills, while others would prefer hiring a Sherpa, viewing the steep ascent as more of a death march than a cross country race.

Weekend Roundup: Light's, Camera's, and Action Mike Miller Oct 15, 2012

Falmouth's Barnstable County Fairgrounds played host to the weekend's most unique and festive meet, as the Twilight Invite nearly doubled its participation from 2011 and saw some of the most spirited races we have seen all fall. The atmosphere was clearly different from anything we've seen this side of the Sagamore, as a carnival/ meet combination reigned supreme. Like cotton candy smeared on your cheeks, it was impossible to walk out of this fair without a smile on your face. While the 5K track is blazing fast, the efforts put up in all races were impressive.

Weekend Recap: Swampscott's Hale 3rd at Thetford Mike Miller Oct 07, 2012

In an experience one has to see to fully comprehend, the Thetford Woods Trail Run is a mudders dream, a mountain climb, followed by a fast descent, on a course that might prepare you for Northfield, but one that you aren't fully prepared for. Amherst and Needham put up two spirited battles on the girls, then the boys, sides, each finishing with the Hurricanes coming out on top of the Rockets, just as they did a few weeks ago on their home course.

Weekend Recap: Rocha Leads Peabody at Kelley Invite Mike Miller Sep 30, 2012

In what is almost certainly the biggest weekend of results so far this fall, three meets dominated the XC scene on Saturday. For those looking South, Bishop Feehan's boys and girls squads took to Cary, NC for the Great American XC Festival. A little less South, Rhode Island hosted the Ocean State XC Invitational. Those looking to stay closer to home, Wrentham was the site of the Frank Kelly Invitational. A word about Frank Kelly, the patriarch of the MSTCA meet at Wrentham today. Coaches know Frank as the wise-cracking gentleman who hands out the packets and pins at the table at many Mass. XC meets. If you're lucky, he might challenge you to an arm wrestling match, as he did John Monz today. If you're unlucky, you might take him up on it. Frank is a true gentleman of the sport, loves the kids involved, and has been involved in it since anyone can remember. Kudos to the MSTCA for giving Frank his due and naming this meet after him. Even more kudos to whoever designed the program, complete with a silhouette of Frank with his patented safari hat and walking stick. What a legend!

Top 25 Coaches' Poll 9/24/12 Mike Miller Sep 24, 2012

Many teams have shuffled around in Coaches Poll # 2 as the teams start to race

Big Weekend Produces Certain Shakeup in the Polls Mike Miller Sep 24, 2012

In what is the first true invitational weekend on the calendar, we in Massachusetts now have a much more defined look at the top teams in the state. On the boys side, top-10's Lowell, Pembroke, Brookline, Shrewsbury, and Westfield were all in action in three different states. On the girls side of things, the top four was idle, but Weston, Newton South, Lincoln-Sudbury, Amherst, Wachusett, Needham, Longmeadow, Concord-Carlisle, Haverhill, Notre Dame, Brookline, and Dennis-Yarmouth all took to the races, all except Weston and L-S at Amherst. The highlights were plenty...

X-C News & Notes 9/16 Mike Miller Sep 16, 2012

Invitational Meet Season Continues- Methuen's boys took 2nd place overall at the Nashua Invitational in New Hampshire on Saturday, showing off a tremendous sophomore class in the process. Senior Mike O'Donnell was runner-up (16:03) in the varsity race, while sophomores Cameron Pavao, Matt Marchand, Devin Allen, John St. Hillaire, and Will McGrath all finished in the top 32 for the Rangers. Unranked Methuen, a team not given a whole lot of hype coming in, could be right behiond #3 Lowell from the MVC in the next poll.

Eastern D1 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 29, 2012

A division that has been dominated by Brookline and Lowell for the past several years has opened up a bit, although I still see those as the top two teams. However, unlike in 2011, it would not be a complete shock to see another team on the podium. Brookline took EMass in 2011 by a paltry 8 points, and followed it up with their second consecutive All State title and 3rd in 5 years. With the losses of Mark Perry and Chernet Sisay, they take a hit. But Lowell loses Alexis Andujar and Nate McCarthy, their own top two. It will take some major improvements by Newton North, Acton-Boxboro, Lexington, or a trio of Catholic Conference teams in BC High, St. John's Prep, and Xaverian, to bring us back to 2008, the last time a team other than Lowell or Brookline won this division.

Eastern D2 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 27, 2012

t appears the (girly country) theme some of Eastern Mass. XC in 2012 is “Wide Open Spaces”, as almost every class enters play in September with no real clear-cut favorite, with the exception of Whitman-Hanson and Bishop Feehan’s girls’ teams. However, DII boys takes the cake in many ways, as no dominant team appears on the radar, and as many as 6 or 7 teams look capable of stealing it when all is said and done. Defending champion Lincoln-Sudbury loses two top 10 runners, as well as 5 of its top 7, making a repeat contingent upon bringing along new blood. They barely even crack the top-10, although I know they will bring along some track talent, but I can’t assume which guys will come over. Runner-up Mansfield loses a pair of top-12 runners, and 2011’s 4^th place team, Marshfield, loses all-everything dup Kevin Thomas and Joel Hubbard, the division’s top two runners a year ago. The top teams will likely shift, with Needham, Chelmsford, Masconomet, and Central Catholic bringing back serious contenders. It’s anybody’s guess who takes it, but here goes mine…

Eastern D3 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 25, 2012

As wide open a division as there is in the state, DIII EMass will be a war from the time the gun goes off until the 100^th runner crosses the line. This meet will come down to depth, 5^th runners on several teams, and team pack tactics. For this reason, coaching will play a major part in who comes out on top, especially with a relatively new course being used for the meet. With the top 5 finishers from 2011 graduating, the race at the top will also be anybody’s guess, although picking favorites will be much easier there. Every top-9 team from last year loses at least 3 of its top 7 runners, with Walpole getting hit hardest by the graduation of six of its top group. All this means is that it truly will be a meet without a solid favorite, and that anybody’s guess as to who will win this thing is foolish. Always willing to look like a fool, here I go…

Eastern D4 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 21, 2012

On paper, and heck, in reality, the two best teams in the entire state reside right here in this division. Pembroke and Bishop Feehan each return squads that boast a sub-16:30 five-man average…. No other team in Mass. brings back a team under 17:00. However, one of these two teams, just as in 2011, can’t win its own division. Perhaps, as in 2011, they will split the trophies. Then, Pembroke narrowly escaped EMass with a 49-54 decision, only to watch in horror as the Shamrocks swept the leg at All States, 59-61. Coach Greg Zopatti of Pembroke and Coach Bob L’Homme of Feehan have had this back-and-forth going for a few years now, and this one will be no different. You have to feel for Steve Infascelli and his Sandwich squad, a team good enough to win many meets, and historically many class meets, who looks a distant 3^rd on paper against these two Regional-powerhouses. There are other really good teams in this division, Hingham comes to mind, that just don’t seem close to those top two.

Eastern D5 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 19, 2012

Newburyport was the runaway team champion in 2011, scoring a low 70 points, and has 4 of the top 20 returners in the race, making them the favorites once again. However, Martha’s Vineyard brings back the whole gang from its 3^rd place team a year ago, making the Newburyport edge by the narrowest of margins. On paper, these are the top two teams by a good amount, with Westwood taking a big hit to graduation and most teams in search of their 4 and 5 runners in the early stages. One team to take a long look at is Old Rochester, a team that was 5^th a year ago, the dreaded spot in EMass that does not move on to All States. They ought to move up, thanks to Mike Wyman and a solid group under 18:30.

Eastern D6 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 16, 2012

For the first time since anybody can remember, the Eastern Mass. Divisional meets will move from their home at Franklin Park, and head, hopefully for one year only, to Wrentham. The Wrentham course runs flat and fast, depending on how its mowed that is. The grass loop course, developed by the MSTCA in 2010, has had several variations, but should be ready for action in 2012. The boys DVI meet will possibly see a changing of the guard, as defending champion Ipswich graduates 3 of its top 4 runners, Seekonk returns a very young squad led by the Salit triplets (and a total of five freshman in its 2011 top-7), and runner-up Norwell brings back its excellent top 4. 45 points separated the top 5 teams in 2011, and this year should be no different.

Central D1 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 09, 2012

BOYS PREVIEW

The Wachusett boys probably think that the wild card slot that Eastern Mass. Coaches lobbied for and got two years ago would have come in handy in 2011 CMass. At the “Big 9 Iron” in Gardner, despite Colin and Jeremy Bennie’s 2-3 finish, the Mountaineers ended up with 100 points and had to settle for 4^th, watching Shrewsbury, St. John’s, and Nashoba duke it out in a epic battle, all three landing within 10 points. St. John’s snuck away with the victory, thanks in part to junior John Green winning the individual title, by only three points over Nashoba. Once again, it appears these will be the top four teams, but with heavy graduation losses by each, the order could change a great deal. One thing seems unmistakable- Bennie and Green are in for a duel that will be talked about for years to come.

Central D2 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 07, 2012

A meet that was once owned by Bromfield, during the tenure of Henry Phelan and slightly beyond, the CMass DII meet is now more of an up-in-the-air affair, with Bromfield finishing 7^th in 2011 and failing to qualify for the All State meet for the first time in anyone’s memory. Tyngsborough and Narragansett staged an epic battle at Gardner’s Municipal Golf Course a year ago, one in which Tyngsborough escaped with a nine-point win. Perhaps most striking from that race was its youth, featuring more freshman (8) and middle schoolers (5, including a 6^th grader!) in the top 30 than seniors graduating (6). The story most likely will be the same as in 2011, these two teams doing battle, with others like Sutton, Bromfield, and Notre Dame (Worcester) duking it out for 3^rd. But, as has been stated time and time again, who knows what such a young field from 2011 will do in a year’s time? Who knows where they will improve and who will have a setback? If nothing else, CMass DII will be very intriguing to watch in 2012.

Western D1 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 05, 2012

Had this been set up as a dual meet, Westfield vs. Western Mass. DI, Westfield could very well have sealed it by going 1-2-3 with Blake Croteau, Matt Jacobson, and Tim Dostie, and needing not to rely on its pack to come through at all. Since it isn’t a dual meet, you can bet that Westfield will be looking to develop its middle pack of 4-5-6 to stay on top of the crowd at Northfield. In 2011, the three juniors were all in the top 8, but big gaps to #4 and #5 left the Bombers 3^rd, behind perennial powerhouse Amherst and Ludlow. Amherst graduates its top 5 runners, and while they can never be counted out, are also no longer the favorites. Ludlow loses individual champ Daniel Crowley, but brings back a strong team from its runner-up squad. With potential cracks in the Amherst armor showing, it will be up to those two teams, as well as possibly a Northampton or a Holyoke to dethrone the Western Mass. Powerhouse in 2012.

Western D2 X-Country Preview Mike Miller Aug 02, 2012

CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW- WEST DIVISION II

As always, predicting what will happen in any high school sport before it happens is an act of folly, and one that will almost always make the predictor look foolish and the second-guesser to look like a genius. But, given the task of previewing each of the state’s 10 divisions, and given that I’ve never shied away from an opportunity to look foolish, here I stand, ready to dive in. As a disclaimer, though, I should say this-I know only what these teams did in the past calendar year. I have no knowledge of incoming freshmen, soccer or field hockey transfers, or the gossip and rumors that seem to permeate the forums. And lastly, a failure to mention a particular team is not intended as a slight, but merely a reflection of the incredible depth each of the divisions our great state has to offer. In short- I don’t want to hear from coaches who feel slighted that their team went unmentioned.

NEW ENGLAND NBON: GIRLS RECAP Mike Miller Jun 19, 2012

Greensboro, NC is a long way from TF Green, Manchester, Logan, and Bradley International Airports, the most likely beginning points for the Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut contingents that headed down to New Balance Nationals to run this weekend. The distance didn’t seem to deter any of them from traveling, competing, and then dominating. For a part of the country that makes up a small fraction of its population, the damage it did was significant. Here are just some of the highlights from those states’ athletes that made the journey and competed in the championship events.

NEW ENGLAND NBON: BOYS RECAP Mike Miller Jun 18, 2012

Heptathlon South Wrap-up ! Mike Miller Jun 08, 2012

.01 in the 200 meters. .01 in the 100 hurdles. .03 in the 800. 1 centimeter in the long jump or shot put. 3 centimeters in the javelin. Even one of those marks would have given Seekonk's Vanessa Noelte her first heptathlon title, but instead, that belongs to Weymouth's Jen Kimball. Thanks to a blistering 800 performance, Kimball claimed the victory by just 1 point (3933) over Noelte (3922). In a sense, it was a come from behind win, but the Individual Heptathlon doesn't have a scoreboard, so the athletes have to run, jump, and throw against a point system and have faith that what they are doing is good enough.

New England Championships -Boys Preview Mike Miller Jun 08, 2012

The New England Championship might have a little different feel to it this year, as some athletes from around the region might feel compelled to skip, due to later than normal state meets, or simply the proximity of US Juniors and New Balance Nationals. Nevertheless, the talent is incredible, and in the country's last true region, a championship might be more meaningful, and tougher to attain, than ever before.

D1 Recap: Top Seeds Don't Disappoint Mike Miller May 28, 2012

Dominance.

How can one school with different coaches produce two dominating performances on the same day at the same meet? Perhaps it was a fluke coincidence. Perhaps it was something in the water. Or, perhaps it's the tradition of track and field at a school with three Hall of Fame Coaches and dozens of state meet trophies in the trophy case.

That school is Newton North. And to the surprise of virtually nobody at Durfee High School on Sunday, that double was performed by Jim Blackburn's Tigers (64) and Joe Tranchita's Lady Tigers (95.5). Acton-Boxboro, meanwhile, took runner-up in both meets (55 for the boys, 62 the girls), with Lincoln-Sudbury (45 boys, 56 girls) taking 3rd in both as well.

MSTCA Inducts Four To Hall of Fame Mike Miller May 22, 2012

At today's MSTCA Hall of Fame induction, the Assocation that drives track and field in Massachusetts inducted four new members into its prestigious Hall of Fame. Created in 1979, the MSTCA Coaches Hall of Fame is home to some of the greatest coaches ever to grab a whistle and clipboard, and couldn't have chosen four more desrving candidates for this honor in 2012.

Bailey-Smith Joins 7Ft Club ! Mike Miller May 18, 2012

The 52nd Andover Collins-McIntyre Meet was a rousing success for the juggernaut known as Central Catholic. A favored team coming in on the boys side, it was the girls team that stepped up to help both teams claim victory, as well as the combined scoring, with a whopping 148 points, far ahead of Weymouth and Andover. Andover Coach Peter Comeau, somewhat of a local celebrity, put on a show for the fans, complete with a new Lynx HD Scoreboard, but Central Catholic was able to steal that show with several outstanding performances.

Recap: Bay State League Meet Mike Miller May 17, 2012

Mike Miller recaps the Bay State League Meet !

Classic Duel ! Mike Miller May 09, 2012

Four teams arrived at Newton North's now famous $200 million complex on Tuesday undefeated and looking for a league title. Somehow, three of those teams left undefeated, and having won a league title. And for the first time in my coaching career, a local TV news crew from Fox 25 even covered the meet for their 6:00 and 10:00 broadcasts, perhaps a sign that track and field might soon move off of the periphery in this state.