by Frank Schroth
The snow is not all that is sparkling of late. The Milton High School Girls Track Team put in a fantastic performance at the recent state championship and made some MHS history. Tom Shaw, the track coach, believes that “for the first time in Milton High School History the girls team has left the state championship with a trophy. Out of over 40 teams we finished 2nd overall losing only to the defending champs Pembroke. Pembroke scored 59 points to our 46.”
Mr. Shaw relayed (pun intended) these additional highlights:
About the 600m he said “I may never see a race like this one with girls that I am coaching ever again.” Milton High placed three girls in the top five! Shaw was congratualted by many coaches after the race who told him how impressive the girls, Sophie Cousineau (1:38.27), Zion Theodoros (1:38.13) and Colette O’Leary (1:36.65) looked dominating that race. Ms. Cousineau, finished 5th, Ms. Theodoros finished 3rd and Ms. O’Leary finished 1st and is the 2015 Div IV State Champion. It should be noted also that Ms Theodoros came within whisper of beating the MHS record that had just been set by Ms. O’Leary earlier in the week and Ms. Theodoros did; but Ms. O’Leary broke her own record by 2 seconds and now holds the 8th fastest time in the state this year. Yipes!
In the one mile race Bridget Mitchell ran one of the best tactical mile races Mr. Shaw has ever seen in a race he’s coached. “She ran a brilliant race with negative splits. Her last 800m was in 2:29!!! She ran a huge pr by 8seconds. Her time of 5:08 was good enough for 2nd place overall. And she’s only a freshman!!! Congratulations Bridget!,” Shaw states.
The team also scored in all three relays. Ten different girls competed for Milton in those relays and all 10 of those girls came home with a medal and the team came home with a trophy.
In the 4x200m Emma Pred-Sosa, Andrea Juzyca, Abigail Jean-Baptiste and Zion Theodoros ran the team’s best 4x200m of the season and fought the entire way allowing them to go from being the 8th seed to the third place finisher. It was a great finish for this senior laden relay team.
In the 4x400m Shaw noted that “This relay demonstrates more than anything the tenacity, depth and commitment that makes our team so strong.” They ran with girls that were tired and asked to run out of their event specialty; but they did not shy away from the challenge. Chae Diani had never run a 400 before, Zion was running her third race of the day while Emma and Antonnea provided “the depth that great teams have to allow us to be one of only two teams to score in all three relays today.” They ran an impressive 4:16.
Laslty in the 4x800m the team broke the school record and are State Champs. Josie Cousineau ran her best race of the season with a 2:33 and her team mates did what they needed to do to bring home a State Championship relay team!
Shaw noted that if you “Score in the relays – you have a chance to win in any big meet! Much to celebrate. Much to be excited about. [I am] very, very proud of these girl and what they brought in terms of heart, desire and commitment when they arrived at the Reggie Lewis Center to compepte.”
Congratulations! Congratulations to the entire team and their superb coach!
You can find complete MIAA Div 4 Championship track results here.