The members of the Bishop Fenwick track team must be very quick learners.
After being introduced to the weight throw halfway through this past season, the Crusaders sent five athletes to compete in the event at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York this past weekend.
"These kids only just learned to throw eight weeks ago," said Fenwick track coach Jay Smith. "We took the kids to Harvard and Providence so they could practice. But going to nationals was a big step."
Junior Zachary Nardone, the only boy Fenwick sent to the competition, had the best throw of any Massachusett competitor with a distance of 39 feet 5 3/4 inches. Nardone also took home 32nd in the shot put.
Fenwick junior Meridith Ross was the top female performer from Massachusetts, taking 31st place with a throw nearly five feet further than her previous best.
Tina Moran, Katie Wilkinson and senior captain Andi Sidell also competed well for the Crusaders.
Aside from the weight throw, Bishop Fenwick also sent two relay teams to the Nike Indoor Nationals at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston this past weekend, where the Crusaders got strong performances from their seniors.
"This represented the culmination of one of the strongest, if not the strongest, seasons for girls track at Fenwick," said Smith. "The balanced showing we had at the National level has never been duplicated in the history of the program."
Seniors Elly O'Leary, Mariel Quezada and Cailyn Webb competed in both relays with the addition of Marissa O'Brien in the 4 by 400 relay, which ran a personal best time of 4:12. The trio ran with junior Brittany Dolan in the sprint medley, which finished with a time of 4:24.
KIERNAN TAKES 16TH IN MILE: Ipswich High freshman miler Sarah Kieran finished 16th at the Nike Nationals. Kieran set a personal best by finishing in 5:25.41, coming within two seconds of the Ipswich High indoor record for the girls mile.
SOFTBALL
Endicott splits: After being no-hit in their opener by Fontbonne University yesterday, 3-0, the Gulls (2-2) responded with a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin River-Falls in the second day of the Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Fla. Merry MacDonald's RBI single scored Jenna Lazar for the only run in Endicott's win, while Kayla Carignan threw her first career shutout.
MEN'S TENNIS
LETORNEAU 7, ENDICOTT 2: The Blue and Green dropped to 1-2 on their season opening trip in Florida. The pairing of Dan Murray and Devon Locke won at first doubles, 9-7, while Murray also prevailed in singles action, 6-4, 6-3.
MEN'S LACROSSE
Salem state 12, curry 7: Senior Justin Jones of Danvers had four goals while Kyle Dolan added three as the Vikings improved to 2-1. Robert Mulroy added two goals while junior Brendan Gill stopped 22 shots in the win.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Endicott drops two games: Endicott College fell to Westfield, 12-2, and Denison, 14-3, yesterday in Eagle Lake, Fla. Shortstop Chris Dominguez, second baseman Eric Lemke and outfielder Colin Sitarz each had two hits for Endicott in the Westfield game.
