During the first three dual meets of the season, the Hopkinton High School boys outdoor track and field team competed in one that was really cold, another that was particularly windy and a third on a rare hot spring day in New England. The conditions were all different, but the result was the same: Hopkinton emerged victorious.
“They are handling the conditions well,” said coach Brian Prescott, “and I am really impressed with them so far.”
The Hillers have a strong, albeit relatively small, senior class and a host of younger athletes who are significant point scorers this spring. Senior captain Logan Sullivan is one of the team’s leaders and a strong jumper who also has been running well in the 400. But the bulk of the Hillers’ points are coming from the juniors.
“We have such a deep junior class,” Prescott said. “We have the ability for kids to focus on one or maybe two events. It really helps us out because they can get really good in that one event.”
Sean Finnegan has emerged as one of the top distance runners in the state. A versatile runner, he came into the year vying for the school records in both the mile and the 2-mile, and Prescott said he will be in a good position to potentially win the latter event at the Meet of Champions at the end of the season.
“He is just on another level,” Prescott said.
Sprinter Ian Weilding earned a pair of early victories in the 200. Sophomore twins Jacob and Matt Logan have scored in both hurdle events, and juniors Iago Ferreira, John Knutson and Lean Augusto Burg are contributing regularly.
Harry Millar is another strong athlete adding to Hopkinton’s depth. Prescott also is pleased that his team should be able to field some particularly strong relay teams. Sullivan, Ferreira, Knutson, Weilding, Jason O’Connell and Josh Tomasino-Steuer will factor into that mix.
In the throwing events, Ryan Morin is a strong point scorer in both the shot put and the discus and, Prescott stressed, a very good leader.
At the midway point of the season, Prescott said the team is focusing on finishing the dual meet schedule strong, particularly after suffering a setback against Dedham during the indoor season that Prescott said will benefit the program in the long run.
“I think we needed to be humbled a little bit,” he said. “That loss sharpened everybody’s focus, coaches and athletes alike.”
After placing second in the Division 2 state relay meet during the indoor campaign, Prescott has high hopes for the season-ending meets, with most of that lineup back on the track this spring.
“We are well situated to do well in the state relay meet coming up and at the state meet,” he said. “I haven’t thought much about the lineup for the state meets yet, but we are making sure that everybody is prepared.”
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