Boys New England Meet Preview
The best boys in New England will travel up to Saco, Maine on Saturday on the campus of Thornton Academy to compete in the 70th New England Outdoor Track & Field Championship. The competition is expected to be at a high level with several defending champions back looking to ascend to the top of the podium once again.
Leading the way is South Portland junior Daniel Guiliani (pictured above) who is ranked #4 in the country with his 66-5 effort earlier this spring, the mark is further than the current New England meet record of 64-1. A year ago Guiliani finished as the New England runner-up throwing 54-10, but a change to the spin technique and a tireless worth ethic have vaulted him into rarified territory. Dan has moved up the the #2 thrower in New England history only behind the 67-10 3/4 by Jeff Chakouian. "My sights have been on 70' in shot put by the end of the season, and judging by how training has been, that is a real possibility. I would like to PR in discus, but I am just looking to be competitive. My main focus is shot put this weekend." Guilaini said about his goals entering the meet. In every meet this season he has thrown over sixty one feet. Dan is also the third ranked discus thrower based on state meet results, and enter the competition with a best of 165-8
Vermont's Alec Eschholz of Mt Mansfield enters the meet as the top seed in both hurdle events. Eschholz, a senior is the defending champion in the 300m hurdles and is coming off a 37.52 performance to win the state title by over three seconds. That mark ranks him #46 in the country. In the shorter race, he has a best of 14.08 to his credit this spring, and leads the field, a year ago he finished third. He is also entered in the 200m where he has the 9th fastest seed time of 22.48.
All eyes will be on the 800m race as defending champion and Penn State bound senior Isaiah Harris looks to make it to the top of the podium for the second year in a row. Harris is coming off a legendary triple that saw him win the 1600, 800m, & 200m at the Class A state meet. Harris sits 6th on the performance list with his state meet time of 1:55.42, but don't be fooled by that. A year ago he clocked a Maine all-time best of 1:51.47, and with this being his last 800m of his high school career you can count on him doing something special. No question the 1:49.93 meet record is in his sights. For good measure Harris is also ranked #4 in the 200m, showing his great range.
The triple jump will be one of the best events of the meet as defending champion Kurt Robakiewicz (Nipmuc, MA) is back to defend but only enters with the fourth best mark of 45-4 after finishing as the runner-up to #3 seed Odmark Ozit (Somerville, MA). On the year Robakiewicz has a best of 46-2 1/2. The top seed in the event is senior Ruvens Exantus (Bunnell, CT) who won the CT state open with a personal best leap of 46-10.25, a year ago Exantus finished third. Don't count out Maine Class C champion Drew Gamage of Oak Hill, broke the state meet record with his 45-9 1/2 mark last weekend, Gamage has a best of 46-7 on the season.
The pole vault will feature defending champion Joseph Fogarasi (Windham, CT) who jumped 15-6 to in CT State open where he finished second in a bit of a surprise. Fogarasi will look to rebound as he will face another top CT vaulter in Ian Bergere (Daniel Hand) who also jumped 15-6 last week finishing third. Last year's runner-up Kyle Baker (Essex, VT) is back, he jumped 14-0 to win the VT D1 state title.
The 200m will be one of the top races on the track as last year's runner-up Abu Ceesay (Norton, MA) enters with the top seed time of 21.73, Cessay finished 2nd in the MA All-State championship with a personal best time. Look for last year's third place finisher Trevane Clarke (Mt Pleasant, RI) who won the RI state title with a personal best 21.78. Last year's champion Zakari Jenkins (Nashua North, NH) is also back, and comes in seeded only 8th with his 22.45
The 400m is another must see event as Rodney Agyare-May (Burncoat, MA) is the top seed and coming off a personal 48.35 to win the MA All-State championship. Last year's third place finisher Jake Dixon of Cheverus, ME (pictured above) won the Class A meet in a new state all-time best of 48.45. Don't count out CT State Open champion Courtney Rush (Windsor, CT) who had a personal best 48.52 winning effort.
Others to watch
Jack Bouchard (York, ME) Bouchard is the top seed in the javelin with his Maine all-time best mark of 200-6 he uncorked to win the Class B title a week ago. Bouchard's distance is over 14ft better than the #2 seed. His mark currently ranks him #14 in the country.
Dan Hardiman (Farmington, CT) Hardiman won the CT State open title with a personal best by over 8ft with his 176-0 winning effort.
Anthony Bravo (Staples, CT) Bravo set a huge personal best of 23-9 in winning the CT State open championship. After a runner-up in the indoor he'll be looking for the top spot. Bravo is also the #2 seed in the high jump with a 6-6 clearance
Starlin Ortiz (Londonderry, NH) Ortiz won the NH Meet of Champions with a 6-8 clearance as he leads all jumpers.
Eli Moskowitz (Souhegan, NH) Moskowitz is the class of the field in the 1600m, the senior won the NH Meet of Champions in a fine 4:09.64 which is faster than Tristan Colangelo's meet record of 4:10.31. Eli is the #3 ranked 3200m runner in the country this spring with his 8:44.79