Thursday evening marked the beginning of the MIAA track and field championships, and Western Massachusetts participants lit up the competition in Division III.
If day one was a sign of what’s to come this weekend, individuals from the region will certainly be bringing home some impressive hardware.
Headlining the top performances was Megan Moran of Westfield. Throughout the season, Moran has been one of the top distance runners in all of Western Mass., and she showed she belongs among the best in the state on Thursday. Moran took home first place in the girls two mile, turning in a time of 11:05.35, more than three seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.
Moran has competed in the 2 mile, 1 mile and 800-meter run among others this season for the Bombers, and has proven to be versatile in each long-distance event.
Elsewhere, Chicopee’s Maria Fareti excelled in the discus. Although Fareti fell short of first place, she still was well over a foot ahead of the third-place finisher. Fareti has competed in several field events for the Pacers this season, and Thursday she topped off a magnificent year competing in the discus.
Chicopee’s success didn’t stop with Fareti. Athena Cusson’s athleticism was on full display during the girls pentathlon. Cusson brought home a first-place finish in the pentathlon long jump (16-09.25). She put together solid performances in every pentathlon event, propelling her to take third place overall.
On the boys side, Donald Kuloba showed his lightning-quick burst in the 200-meter dash. The West Springfield senior came in second place, posting a 22.61. Kuloba is regarded as one of the fastest athletes in the region, but the entire state got a taste of his speed on Thursday.
In that same event, Noah Brathwaite placed just behind Kuloba. Brathwaite and Kuloba were running stride for stride the entire way. Brathwaite turned in a 22.66, good for third place.
Westfield’s Antonio Adams placed the highest out of any Western Mass. field event participant, using a 41-09.50 to take third in the triple jump.
Other top Western Mass. performers
Boys 400 hurdles – Nikolas Supczak, Minnechaug (sixth, 60.25)
Boys 400 hurdles – Boston Williams, West Springfield (seventh, 60.34)
Boys 400 hurdles – Nessa Gibson, Westfield (tenth, 71.63)
Boys 800-meter – Ben Drohan, West Springfield (sixth, 1:59.78)
Boys 2 mile – Reno Carrona, West Springfield (ninth, 9:42.63)
Girls discus – Hannah Debian, West Springfield (sixth, 98-01)
Boys pole vault – Dante Rivera-Mackin, Chicopee (fourth, 10-06)
Boys pole vault – William Flaherty, West Springfield (seventh, 10-00)
Boys pole vault – Maddox Morse, Chicopee Comp (seventh, 10-00)
Boys pole vault – Boston Williams, West Springfield (seventh, 10-00)
Boys triple jump – James Crook, Chicopee (eighth, 40-05.00)
Boys triple jump – Tenius McCluster, Chicopee Comp (ninth, 39-11.25)