BRIDGEWATER – At this point, winning a race has become common for Giuliana Ligor. The feeling that follows, however? She is always chasing it.
On Friday, the junior accomplished her latest feat. Ligor set a meet record in the girls 400-meter hurdles, placing first overall in 1:01.15 to help North Reading jump out to a scorching start in the opening day of the Div. 5 outdoor track and field championship at Bridgewater State University.
“It always feels good to keep it going,” Ligor said. “I’ve won this event at this meet the past three years. It always feels good to keep it up.”
The meet was split into two separate days, with half of the usual events taking place. Ligor’s victory awarded 10 points to North Reading. The Hornets also received a great performance from junior Hayden MacLellan, who won the girls pole vault with a mark of nine feet, six inches. As of Friday night, North Reading was leading in its conquest for a second straight divisional crown with 50 points. Weston was second with 30.
“Just have to keep them fresh,” North Reading coach Sotirios Pintzopoulos said of his group. “I think they had a big day today. A lot of the kids that performed or competed today are coming back on Sunday, doing a second or third event. Rest tomorrow, then come in with a positive mindset.”
Pintzopoulos continued.
“We came in today hoping for 48 points,” Pintzopoulos said. “We scored 50, so we’re ahead of schedule, if you want to call it that.”
After a quiet start to the afternoon, Norwell’s boys team closed the evening in style. Senior Ryan Luccarelli stood out for the Clippers by winning the pentathlon with 2,645 combined points. Meanwhile, Thomas Corbett placed second in the two mile (9:39.58). Junior Noah Mulligan set a meet record in the triple jump (44 feet, 10.50 inches). The Clippers rallied to take over the top spot in the boys’ rankings with 42 points.
“It’s all the work we put in at practice,” Luccarelli said. “You go out there, you go on the track. But it’s the people outside the fence encouraging you. Running the mile at the end, I ran it twice, and I had the long distance kids cheering me on, coaches cheering me on. I think that’s what really drives this team. Everyone is striving to be better than the kid in front of you. I think that ultimately helps us in (our chase) to be the best.”
Other key performances included another Norwell athlete, Liliana MacDonald, who set a meet record in the girls triple jump (38-06.50) and later won the pentathlon with 2,952 points.
Medway’s Charity Johnson registered a meet record in the girls discus throw with a toss of 130 feet, even. Liam Kneeland of Triton also shattered a meet record in the boys discus at 162 feet.
The Div. 5 meet is slated to conclude Sunday back at Bridgewater State.
