Duchatelier and Toussaint continue to set the pace in high school track and field

By Jack Nicas

Tanisha Duchatelier and Antoinette Toussaint have been running around together since they were kids. Now, as high school seniors, their running is paying off for Somerville High. For the past four years the two have led the way for the girl’s track team and were at it again on Saturday when Somerville hosted the annual State Coaches’ Invitational.

The girls each competed in two events at the meet: Duchatelier in the 200-meter dash and high jump and Toussaint in the 100-meter hurdles and triple jump. Duchatelier placed an uncharacteristic tenth in both of her events. However, she did run a fast time (28.09 seconds) in the 200-meter dash, missing the qualifying time by a mere fifteenth of a second and placing in the top 10 out of 72 participants. Toussaint continued her stretch of success with a third place finish in the hurdles (two tenths of a second behind the leader) and a second place showing in the triple jump.

Somerville girls’ track coach and meet director Charlie O’Rourke said, ‚ÄúTanisha ran a very fast time in the 200 and Antoinette’s triple jump was her personal best by almost a foot.‚Äù He said Saturday was Toussaint’s first big event since a concussion sidelined her for close to a month.

With the exception of Toussaint’s injury, 2008 has been a successful year for the pair. This winter they led their indoor track team to an undefeated season and the Greater Boston League championship, but they still were not finished garnering attention and big wins.

Toussaint and Duchatelier qualified for the State Championships in February, where Toussaint captured first place in the pentathlon-a five-pronged event consisting of the high jump, long jump, shotput, 60-meter hurdles, and an 800-meter run-scoring 108 points higher than her closest competitor. She said, ‚ÄúThat was fun. I’ve never won anything like that before; I always seem to come in second or third and never win, so that was different.‚Äù Duchatelier wasn’t far behind though, placing 37th out of the 105 competitors.

Their performance at States earned them a trip to New York City for the National Scholastic Track and Field Championship Meet in March. Both girls ranked the event as the biggest accomplishment thus far in their track and field careers, and rightfully so; Toussaint captured tenth overall in the pentathlon, while the two appropriately tied for 13th in the high jump. But forget the accolades, they were more interested in the city: “[New York] was a lot fun, we went everywhere. And the food was so good!” Toussaint said.

Now the two look forward to the next step in their lives: college. Toussaint is committed to UMass Lowell, but will attend Middlesex Community College for two years before transferring there. She said, ‚ÄúI’m still going to practice with the team while at Middlesex, so that should be cool.‚Äù

For Duchatelier, she said her plans ‚Äúaren’t set in stone.‚Äù She has been accepted to Eastern Nazerene College in Quincy, but is still waiting to hear from Salem State. Although neither school has a track team she may play volleyball, which she has done at Somerville High. ‚ÄúWe don’t have a strong team, but it’s always been a lot of fun,‚Äù she said.

They both seem to have a lot of that – fun — at the high school: ‚ÄúI love Somerville High,‚Äù Duchatelier said. Toussaint one-upped her best friend; ‚ÄúOh, I love it even more than Tanisha,‚Äù she said.

But the two don’t have much time left; graduation is set for June 2. Nevertheless, they have high hopes  for the remainder of the track season. ‚ÄúI think we have a chance to be the GBL meet champions,‚Äù Duchatelier said. Toussaint predicted a win as well: ‚ÄúIf everyone does their part, it shouldn’t be much of a challenge.‚Äù

Regardless if they finish out the season as predicted, many will still be proud of the two girls. ‚ÄúThey’re terrific young ladies and they both have extreme talent,‚Äù O’Rourke said.

A championship would be an appropriate capstone on their outstanding high school careers. Especially considering the two began with a state title in the mile relay as freshmen.

Whatever the outcome, Somerville will miss the best friends’ side-by-side smiling faces come September, whether it’s on the track or in Rudy’s Caf√© where they work together. Yet they’ll miss the city as well. Antoinette said, ‚Äú[Somerville] is so interesting and diverse, and there’s always something to do; I love it.‚Äù

Whatever the outcome and wherever the two end up, it is clear their friendship is far from the finish line. Duchatelier said the two are together seven days a week, whether it’s at track practice or Rudy’s.  ‚ÄúWe really are best friends,‚Äù she said. Toussaint corrected her: ‚ÄúYou mean BFF!‚Äù