The temperatures might be dropping like a stone outside, but this is when the Massachusetts indoor track season begins to heat up.
In front of a packed Reggie Lewis Center, Ahmir Hykel, Dayvian Sullivan, Charlie Angell and Andrew McManmon combined to set a new meet record in the boys' 4×50 (21.08 seconds), as St. John's Prep took home the championship during the 56th running of the MSTCA Div. 1 James Kalperis Indoor Relays.
The meet record for St. John's Prep unseated the prior mark set back in 2019. Despite winning only two events, the Eagles collected 65 team points.
The critical point for the school came during the long jump relay, with two of its teams placing atop the field. Angell and Sullivan teamed up with Lincoln Massaro for the victory (19.52 meters), setting a meet record in doing so. Meanwhile, Jordan Toribiao, Alex Tumisi and Leo Emerson finished second (18.53). The field competition catapulted the Eagles into the winner's circle by evening's end.
It was the first title in the showcase for the school since 2007.
"It was a while ago," said St. John's Prep coach Zach Lankow, who was a senior at the school that year. "But it was great. This is one that we've thought we've had a shot at, honestly a few times in the past decade since I've been back, but this group got it done today. So, kudos to them."
After finishing as a co-champion last season, Newton North was able to win the girls Div. 1 crown with 64 points.
The Tigers captured three events, with Ciara Evans serving as the catalyst. The senior captain anchored her squad to a win in the sprint medley relay (4:10.58) with Kara Tsai, Isabella Mangada and Penny Blumenthal.
She later propelled the Tigers to a first-place finish in the distance medley relay (12:20.13), with Salome Laurence, Maggie Abely and Brie McSheffrey as teammates. The program also tied its own meet record in the long jump relay, with sophomores Blake MacNeil, Sophie Finkelstein and Juju Fontes combining for a distance of 15.14 meters.
Lexington was the Div. 1 girls runner-up, finishing with 45.5 points.
"I've got a great group of girls," said Newton North coach Mike Travers. "They work hard, they pay attention, and nothing rattles them. We put a lot of responsibility on them, and they respond like seasoned athletes. So, I'm very happy."
It was a banner night for Newton North in general. On top of winning the girls championship, the Tigers finished runner-up to St. John's Prep in the boys competition.
Reese Connors and Alexander Hofmann teamed up with Logan Smith and Juan Talisayon to set a meet record in the 4×200 (1:29.87), and also shattered another during the sprint medley relay (3:30.89) alongside Knox Wallask and Surya Thiavanti. During the 4×400 race to cap the night, Connors, Hofman, and Talisayon joined up with George Rumkin to close things with one more victory (3:24.74) for good measure.