Westford miler Abigail Hennessy shines brightest at Meet of Champions big stage
Hennessy's time eclipsed the state record (4:37.22) set by Belmont's Ellie Shea in 2023. The effort was also the fourth-fastest girls' mile run in the country this season.
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'The record wasn't in my head for this race, but I'm over the moon to be able to do that here,' Hennessy said. 'I was definitely not expecting it, running all alone.
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'My goal going into this was just sub-2:20 in the opening half. So after [I surpassed] that and then I got through the third lap too, I knew there was a real chance.'
Westford junior Abigail Hennessy is the new Massachusetts record holder in the girls' mile.
Hennessy finishes in 4:37.11, just topping Ellie Shea's mark from 2023 (4:37.22).
Against the state's best competition, she won by over 16 seconds. It's a three-second PR.
— Matty Wasserman (@Matty_Wasserman)
Hennessy was sidelined for much of the cross-country and indoor track season with an energy deficiency condition, but has emerged even stronger since returning in February.
She claimed victories in both the 800 meters and mile at last week's Division 1 championships, and again this week at the Meet of Champions, with Sunday's effort marking a three-second personal best.
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'My aerobic fitness has increased exponentially this season, and that's really helped me, especially with those negative splits,' Hennessey said. 'So going to nationals, where I'll have other people to run with, my confidence is really high.'
Brookline's Altamo Aschkenasy (3526) won the mile, but he and his Warrior teammates had to settle for second in the 4x800-meter relay behind Abdul Jalloh (3690) and Lowell Sunday at Fitchburg State.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
With a number of strong contenders in the boys' mile field, Brookline senior Altamo Aschkenasy knew it would take a massive personal-best to emerge on top.
Even after a quick start, Aschkenasy found himself two strides behind Natick junior John Bianchi with one lap remaining. But he kicked hard with 200 meters to go and never looked back, finishing in 4:08.31 — nine seconds faster than his previous best.
It was Aschkenasy's second-straight week finding a late burst in the mile, after he charged from way behind to claim the event at last week's Division 1 championship.
'I knew I was going to run my PR when the race went off, because that's what it took to stay with John,' Aschkenasy said. 'I was good to sit behind for three laps, and then when I felt comfortable, I just made my move.'
Brian Moody measures 5-feet, 7-inches for the girls' high jump final during Sunday's MIAA Meet of Champions.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
After placing in the top three in the pole vault at the Meet of Champions each of the past two seasons, Acton-Boxborough senior Emerson Gould entered Sunday with one last opportunity to stamp her place atop the state.
Gould made no mistake this time around, setting a 2-inch personal best (12 feet, 2 inches) to win in dominant fashion over runner-up Alexandra Welch of Shrewsbury (11-6).
'I started freshman year because I was a gymnast and I loved flying, and pole vault was the closest thing I could get to it,' Gould said. 'So I'm emotional, because it's been a really great four years. And especially going out today [with a win], it feels awesome.'
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Peabody senior Alex Jackson capped off one of the great MIAA throwing careers in recent history with a dominant weekend, rolling to wins in discus (187 feet, 6 inches) on Thursday and shot put (62-5¼) on Sunday.
Jackson, committed to the University of Virginia, has notched double wins at the last four Meet of Champions between the indoor and outdoor seasons, and has not lost an in-state shot put event since 2023.
'I've done this for so long, and I've won a few state titles, so at this point, it was really just about finishing my legacy,' Jackson said.
Westwood celebrates their win in the girls' 4x800-meter relay.
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Norton's Zoe Santos clears 5 feet, 7 inches, to capture gold in the girls' high jump competition.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Chloe Elder of Natick (right) couldn't catch Dennis-Yarmouth's Breanna Braham, who won the 400 meters in a personal-best time of 53.70, the fastest time in the state this year.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Milton's Luka Juric (center) was just able to edge Attleboro's Zayne Thomas (left) at the line to win the 100-meter dash in a time of 10.66, just three-hundredths of a second ahead of Thomas.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Natick's Emmanuella Edozien won the 100-meter hurdles in style, her time of 13.57 well ahead of North Reading superstar Giuliana Ligor (right), who clocked in at 14.01.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Kyle Haskell of Andover celebrates with his coaches after breaking the school record in the mile with a time of 4:13.84.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Matty Wasserman can be reached at
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