Seekonk Track Teams Thinking Big After Another SCC Victory

NEW BEDFORD - While the wind was gusting strongly outside, the Seekonk boys and girls track teams were running like the wind in Wednesday night’s meet against Case.

Both Warrior teams scored big wins over the Cardinals at GNB Voc-Tech to improve to 2-0 in the South Coast Conference Gold Division, but after another dominating performance, both teams are thinking bigger than their side of the conference.

“We have a more balanced attack than we’ve had the past couple of years,” girls coach Earl Berwick said following Seekonk’s 59-20 victory. “Between sprinting, mid-distance and distance, we definitely can compete with anyone in the conference. Going into the bigger meets at (the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston), we’re in a pretty good spot to keep moving up and moving forward to give the larger schools a run. We definitely have the talent. Barring sickness and injuries, we should be in the top 3, top 4, right there in the mix.”

“We’re hoping to win the small division, and anything’s possible in the conference championship,” boys coach Matt McCartin said after the 52-34 win. “How we split up our distance guys will be big, one of those strategic things.”

Both teams improved to 2-1 overall and will run again next week on Wednesday against Bourne at GNB Voc-Tech.

REPORTERTODAY.COM MVP: Senior Hannah Bradbury won two individual events for the Warriors, placing first in the 2-mile (12:31.6) and the 600 (1:52.6). “Hannah, usually whatever race she’s in, she’s either going to win or come in a very close second,” Berwick said. “She has an amazing work ethic. She really works on her training and hydration. She has a very strong attitude coming into races that she doesn’t want to lose. She’s been a constant state qualifier the last three years and she’s going to be one again this year.” Bradbury is coming off an impressive cross country season and is in her fourth year of indoor and outdoor track.

LEADING THE PACK: The strength of the boys team is the distance events, where the Warriors saw much success on Wednesday night with Jacob Klang winning the 600, Henry Jordan and Andrew Cabral crossing the finish line together in first place in the 1,000, and Marcus Hoskins winning the mile. “Distance is our bread and butter,” McCartin said. “Andrew is one of the top runners in the state, and Henry is right behind him. They can go anywhere. Jacob is having a good season, and so is James Tenreiro, who I think is going to surprise a lot of people in the mile as the season goes on.”

RUNNING WILD: The girls team saw plenty of success outside of the distance events. Madison Costa took first in the 55 hurdles (10.9) and senior Page Fecteau captured the 300 with a personal best time of 49.7. Also winning for the Warriors were Mackenzie Gingras in the shot put (30-9.5), Julia Rickard in the mile (6:21.6) and Allie Houle in the high jump (4-8). Berwick said the solid performances were the start of something better on the horizon. “That was Mackenzie’s first time over 30 in a while, and Allie is flirting with 4-10 in the high jump,” he said. “We’re moving up. They’re doing a great job.”

SUCCESS ON THE THROWS: Senior David Pedro won the shot put with a toss of 38-9.5 and fellow senior Vivek Patel was right behind him in second with 36-10. “Pedro is just starting to glide, he’s starting to get it,” McCartin said. “He’s a big, strong physical kid. I think we have a couple of guys who could get over 40 feet this season.”

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Berwick was very pleased with the progress the freshmen and sophomores are making as the season’s gone along, pointing to a lot of solid performances and personal records not even two months into the season. “Freshman Lauren Morales had a PR in the shot put by 2 feet, and (freshman) Danielle Boardman also PR’d by two feet. Danielle started off the season throwing 16 feet and that was four weeks ago Now she’s four feet longer. She’s working hard day in and day out and she’s just one example of how this team has worked so hard this year.” Berwick also pointed to solid contributions from Morales and Sarah DeMelo in the dash with DeMelo also running the varsity 300, as well as Kiley Halpin and Kelsey Gendreau in the 2-mile. “The majority of the team are seniors, but the freshmen and sophomores are starting to pick it up,” Berwick said.

QUICK HITS: McCartin couldn’t say enough about assistant coach Jason Azulay, who is also a Seekonk High School alum. “He’s doing a great job with the throwers,” McCartin said. “He’s a game-changer for us across all disciplines. He’s running the weight room for our sprinters. He’s been amazing.” … The Warriors and Cardinals were running against each other while SCC Blue Division rivals Old Rochester and Apponequet were also facing off. It’s a common sight at GNB Voc-Tech, where all South Coast Conference meets are held with as many as four schools competing at a time. “All the coaches get along and the kids get along and they cheer each other on,” Berwick said. “Voke has always been a good host.” … To say the strength of the boys team is the distance is an understatement: They swept the top three positions in the 600 and 1,000 on Wednesday. … McCartin also credited Zach Read (third in 600) and freshman Cristiano Almeida (third in 1,000 for first varsity points) for their performances Wednesday and throughout the season. … Legendary cross country coach Frank Mooney is right where he belongs: Helping the Warriors with their distance running as an assistant coach. … Mathieu Dundas had a pair of second-place finishes for the boys in the hurdles and the 300. He was followed by Noah Boudreau-Faria in the hurdles and Ryan Provazza in the 300. … Rickard, who won the girls mile race, wasn’t scheduled to run in that event but was a late sub in. “She ended up in there and won it,” Berwick said. “She didn’t mind running it. The team as a whole is very supportive of each other.” … Seekonk will compete in the Northeast Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Center on Saturday. The rest of the Warriors schedule is Bourne on Jan. 15, Fairhaven on the 23rd, and the SCC Championships in Boston on Feb. 8. … The boys team also won the 4x400 relay with Read, Klang, Jordan and Cabral. … McCartin said he’s hoping to have more time to work with the current group. “Hopefully, we can get them in transition to outdoor track in the spring. When you get in double seasons and not just a couple of months, it can really translate well for us.” … Laurie Los, sports editor of The Standard-Times in New Bedford, was in attendance doing a story on the Apponequet-Old Rochester meet. No one has more spirit for high school sports than Laur.