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Sports

Mansfield Girls Track Looks To Continue Recent Success At All-State Meet

Hornets among a group of challengers for the state crown on Saturday.

With the great deal of success it has enjoyed recently, everyone keeps an eye on the Mansfield High girls’ indoor track team at the MIAA All-State Meet.

After capturing the first indoor state championship in the program’s history two years ago, the Hornets finished in second place last winter, just six points behind state champion Newton North (32-26).

And Mansfield will be a serious challenger for the state championship again this year when the Hornets travel up to the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Roxbury on Saturday morning for the MIAA All-State Meet.

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The Hornets followed up a pair of Hockomock League titles by winning their third consecutive crown at the MIAA Division 2 State Meet a week ago at the Reggie Lewis Center. Mansfield won the meet with 67 points, while Central Catholic was second with 57.5 points.

“The kids performed above my expectations last week, as always seems to be the case with this group,” said Mansfield head coach Peter Schuder. “The hurdle event was the turning point for us as we gained 20 points and a huge lead.”

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Central Catholic will be one of the teams that Mansfield will have to contend with on Saturday if it hopes to win its second state title in three years. Other teams that are looking to contend for the state championship includes 2010 state champion Newton North, along with Lincoln-Sudbury and Bishop Feehan.

The defending state champions from Newton North captured the Division 1 State Meet last week with 55 points, while Andover was second with 48 points and Lincoln-Sudbury was third with 42. Traditional power Bishop Feehan placed second at the Division 3 State Meet with 50.5 points. Pembroke won that meet with a total of 64 points.

“We will go into the meet with a plan and then hope for the best,” said Schuder. “We just need to stay healthy and then we can compete. But these girls like to win.”

On Saturday, Mansfield will have three athletes seeded in the 55-meter hurdles. Junior Jennifer Esposito is seeded third with a time of 8.45, with senior captain Kristen McDonagh is ranked seventh at 8.62 seconds and junior Paige Grimes is 21st at 8.81.

Esposito is seeded second in the 300 meters with a time of 40.03 seconds. She placed third in this event a year ago with a time of 41.33 seconds.

After capturing the state championship last winter in the high jump competition with a height of 5-8, McDonagh is the second seed this year at 5-4.

Junior Kayla Comer is the fourth seed in the 55-meter dash with a time of 7.32 seconds. She finished ninth in the event last winter with a time of 7.41 seconds.

Senior captain Lauren Columbare is the 21st seed in the mile with a time of 5:18.25.

The 4x200 relay team will be looking for a state crown in its event, entering the meet as the top seed with a time of 1:46.31. The quartet of senior captain Emily Broyles, Comer, sophomore Julia Jones and senior Jessica Verbic won the event at the Division 2 State Meet last week. The 4x400 relay team is also seeded 18th with a time of 4:12.20.

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