Sasha Garczynski is off to a running start, capturing the top spot in the 600 meters in wins over Medford and Everett. - Photo by Siobhan Murray

Consecutive wins to open season

By Mike Rubin

Led by multiple strong performances, the Somerville High girls track team is off to a fast start. After cruising to a 66-15 win over Medford, the Highlanders rolled to a 73-13 victory over Everett. Currently, the Highlanders stand at 2-0 overall.

In the Medford win, the Highlanders were guided by Pristine Mei, who delivered a solid win in the two-mile run with a winning time of 13 minutes 13 seconds while Nicole Genard cruised to a win in the hurdles en route to a time of 8.9.

In the dash, Michelle Meranda eased to a winning time of 7.7 followed by Gelynne Berger posted a strong performance in the 300 meters en route to a time of 46.2.

In the 600 meters, Sasha Garczynski posted a victory in the 600 meters en route to a time of 1:54 while Tayla Plett rolled to a victory in the 1000 meters with a time of 3:45.

Leading the way in the mile run was Iaritza Menjivar with a winning time of 6:00. Also finishing second and third were Maggie Langwig (6:34) and Melina Garro-Duplisea (6:35).

In the high jump, Taija Clark cleared the bar with a winning score of 4-8 while Meranda finished second with a 4-6. In the shotput, Genard recorded a winning toss of 31-4 followed by Natalie David’s second place result of 30-5.

In the Division 1 relays held on January 16 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Field Center, the dash relay team of Berger, Murphy, Meranda and Genard finished second overall with a time of 25.38 while the 4×200 meter relay team of Berger, Murphy, Meranda and Genard also recorded a third place time of 1:49.77.

In the Highlanders’ 73-13 win over Everett, Mejivar led the way in the two-mile, en route to a winning time of 12:56 while Genard captured the hurdles with a time of 7.3 followed by Murphy’s second place result of 8.2.

In the dash, Berger rolled to a victory with a time of 6.5 while Natalie Henrique earned a second place result (6.7). In the 300 meters, Meranda eased to a victory with a time of 40.9 while Garczynski led a sweep in the 600. Finishing in first with a time of 1:41, Garczynski was followed by Plett with a time of 1:43 followed by Tory Govan (1:53).

Finishing first and second in the 1000 meters was Rita Musello-Kellier, who finished in a tie with Murray with a time of 3:23.

In the mile run, Mei cruised to a winning time of 6:02 followed by Garro-Duplisea’s second place time of 6:35. In the high jump, Clark cleared the bar at 4-8 while Genard guided a sweep in the shotput. Genard, who tossed a winning score of 32-1 was followed by David (30-4) and Murphy (26-10).

In the relay race, the team of Berger, Sabrina Kerr, Murray and Meranda rolled to a winning time of 4:47.