NORTH ANDOVER – In passing, Burlington boys outdoor track and field coach Matt Carr says the whole program has always really liked and cared about the pentathlon.
The first day of the Div. 4 state championships at Merrimack College on Friday added yet another chapter to the Red Devils’ rich history, as juniors Ryan Brooks and Leila Gilligan took the respective boys and girls pentathlon state titles.
Brooks won the pentathlon’s long jump (21-11.75) and shot put (41-08.50) on the way toward setting a school record in the event (3,223), leading a group of four Red Devils to place in the top eight.
Top-seeded Gilligan won the pentathlon’s 800-meter run (2:28.26) and felt her growth in the 100-meter hurdles (17.16) stood out as part of her 2,562-point performance.
This was the first time either had won the outdoor event.
“I had a lot of pressure to do it because I was seeded first, so I felt like I needed to perform really well,” Gilligan said. “Today I felt like all the events just fit together really well. – I PR-ed in a few – so I felt really good about it. … It feels great. If you asked me this a year ago I would not have expected it. So it just feels really good to (win it).”
Former standout and current UMass sophomore Elijah Wolinski, the old record holder, was at the meet earlier in the day.
It was only fitting for Brooks to see him before besting his mark.
“He’s one of my good friends, so I was really trying to go for his record this year,” Brooks said. “He’s kind of my role model I’m going off of. I love him. …. I hit almost every PR except for long jump in my events, which got me to that school record. I’ve just been pushing toward that school record for the past two years now … and now I’m trying to qualify for (nationals).”
Between Brooks, Leon Sekandi (fourth, 3,081), Justin Gray (sixth, 2,921) and Shane Sheehan (seventh, 2,809), Burlington earned 20 points in the event as part of a good tone set heading into Sunday. The Red Devils’ 22 points overall is fifth in team scores.
Pembroke and reigning champion Wakefield ended the day tied in the lead with 29 points. The Titans were boosted by senior Luke Lamar’s title in the 400-meter hurdles (53.31) and Gabe Lamar’s second-place finish in the 200-meter dash (22.25). Wakefield’s pole vaulting team saw Henry Brown finish second (12-00), Ryan Hogan take third (11-06) and James Fabbri come in eighth (10-00) for 15 points to lead the way. Broderick Wyatt also finished third in the 400-meter hurdles (57.43).
Ludlow’s Logan Walsh won the 800-meter run (1:55.62) to repeat his crown. Fal mouth’s Silas Gartner won the two-mile run (9:23.32) after taking second last year.
On the girls side, Amherst Pelham ended the day in the lead with 26 points, but Holliston (24 points), Melrose (23 points) and Canton (21 points) are right on its heels.
Annabelle Lynch finished second in the two-mile run (11:15.90) and Maggie Kuchman took sixth (11:26.95), supporting Kaitlyn Quealy’s state title in the triple jump (37-03.50) to lead Holliston. Reilly Powell won the two-mile (11:10.15) and Emile Boyer placed third in the discus throw (113-08) to anchor Melrose.
For Canton, Chloe Dubuisson improved on her second-place finish from last year by winning the 400-meter hurdles (1:02.95), and Sally Hoban took third in the pentathlon (2,491).
