Northampton track & field coach Brandon Palmer rifled off numbers as runners dashed across the finish line. “24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,” he yelled, alerting runners of their times.
The crisp March air stung the hands of softball players who nicked balls off the top of the bat, sending the bright yellow balls high over the backstop toward the track. With every ting of the aluminum, runners dodged the balls with agility.
Long distance runners began to return from their excursion, gasping for air with their interlocked hands placed atop their heads.
Northampton started preparing for the outdoor track & field season on March 21, and four days into the journey, the Blue Devils were working diligently.
“It’ll be interesting to see how everything shapes out this year,” Palmer said. “We got a young team. I think every one of my freshmen brought a friend to practice on” the first day.
Northampton heads into the season with some veteran talent and some younger runners who are willing to learn and compete. Coming off of a 10-2 indoor season, the expectations for the spring are high.
“We should have a competitive season,” Palmer said. “We’ll have competitive relays, and you know we’ll be out there with a couple of top individuals as well. If we have everyone on the same page and everyone doing workouts together and finishing strong, we should have a pretty successful year.”
One of those individuals is Liam Sullivan, a senior distance runner. In 2015, Sullivan’s best time in the 2-mile was 11 minutes, 43.9 seconds. He has worked hard, cut his personal records and is ready to run his senior season.
“Time doesn’t matter as much as place,” Sullivan said. “My goal is to win All-States in the 2-mile because it’s my senior year, my last chance. (A) 9:12 qualifies for nationals, so that’s one of my first goals. I don’t know if I can break nine minutes, but I want to scare it.”
If there’s someone who can scare nine minutes, it’s Sullivan, who doesn’t have much time away from the sport after running cross country in the fall and indoor track in the winter.
“I’m definitely feeling good,” he said. “I’ve had the longest continuous streak of training that I’ve ever had. I’m coming in feeling like I have a good base, and I’m ready to go.”
Sullivan has taken on a leadership role this season. He enjoys leading by example and “always wants to be as tired or more tired than the other runners.”
“Liam is becoming a leader,” Palmer said. “He takes it very seriously and understands that the younger guys look up to him. He’ll make any sacrifices that he can to push himself and be a leader.”
Sullivan isn’t the only runner who can help lead the Blue Devils. Nik Smith, a junior, is coming off a quality indoor season and will look to carry the momentum into the spring.
“Nik Smith is special,” Sullivan said. “It’s all eyes on him. He’s just a junior, and he’s one of the fastest kids in New England. I’m excited to see what he does.”
Northampton is not without weaknesses. Palmer pointed to the field events as an area where the Blue Devils could have some difficulties.
“Our weakness this year is going to be the field events, so we’re going to try to make up for that in the track events,” Palmer said. “We have to be dominant on the track. If we have to put the team on the backs of Nik and Liam, then that’s what we’ll do.”
Palmer is coaching the boys team at Northampton for the second time. When he arrived at the school four years ago, he coached the boys for one season before taking the helm of the girls team. In his first stint with the boys, the Blue Devils posted a 1-7 record. Palmer believes that with this group of runners, that record can be reversed.
It will take a lot of push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks, core workouts and diligent running to get past teams like Amherst Regional, Longmeadow and Minnechaug.
“When it comes down to the championship meet, I think Amherst will definitely be there,” Palmer said. “We have a lot of very strong competitors out here in western Mass., and they all seem to be lumped together on a few different teams.”
Amherst has a 2-miler of its own who will look to compete with Sullivan. Owen Wright finished third in the indoor 2-mile as Amherst won its fifth straight PVIAC indoor championship.
Sullivan, who finished first in the 2-mile at the same meet, is good friends with Wright and they do long runs together every weekend.
“We’ve done a few races together in the summer,” Sullivan said. “We always trash talk and stuff. I love competing with him, and he knocked down his personal record in indoor, so I’m sure he’ll be right there.”
Amherst is coming off of a 6-6 indoor season and is confident it can claim the outdoor PVIAC championship as well.
Jericho Sylla is one of the top sprinters and jumpers in the area and will look to guide the Hurricanes..
“We have a group of guys willing to push the limit and compete every day. It’s the same strategy, just a different season,” Amherst coach David Thompson said. “We’re looking to compete and get as many guys qualified for Western Mass. Championships as possible.”
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Amherst Regional
COACH: David Thompson, seventh year
LEAGUE: Valley League
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 7-1
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 1 MEET: Second
RETURNING ATHLETES: Jericho Sylla, Owen Wright, Aiden Foucault Etheridge, Julian Fisher Frank, Joseph Tavarez, Andre Sheperd, Adawahi Robinson, Ali Abdel-Maksoud, Zachary Ellis
NEWCOMERS: Akeem Mallery, Aidan Shea, Karrington Dowe, Soujah Ferreira, Isaiah Moyston, Brandon Parham, Shyam Tewani, Shotaro Session
OUTLOOK: The Hurricanes graduated 12 seniors last year but come back young and with strong leadership. Wright is expected to be a top 2-mile runner and Sylla should hold down the sprints and jumps. Robinson is a strong thrower. Amherst is expected to be a top team in the region.
Belchertown
COACH: Bill Wheeler, second year
LEAGUE: Suburban
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 2-5
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 1 MEET: Did not score
ATHLETES: Jordan Adadevoh, Nova Albrecht, Zachary Bail, Zachary Bonetti, Joshua Bronson, Nicholas Brooks, Liam Burke, Evan Burton, Liam Cleary, Cameron Cyr, Matthew Dixon, Samuel Dixon, Sullivan Douglas, Kevin Fish, Aidan Griffiths, Jordan Kruse, Alex Laporte, Andrew LeBlanc, Jeremy Lefebvre, Jonathan Lobik, Colton Loftus, Tremar Marchand, Parker Mas, Patrick Otto, Isaac Pefaur, Jacob Plate, Jacob Potter, Douglas Quinn, Eric Quinney, Matthew Quinney, Elijah Saklad, Cameron Sullivan-Daley, Alexander Szarkowski, Cameron Szarkowski, Alec Walker, James Wang, Bryce Whitehead, Nicholas Wilkes, Harley Withers, Benjamin Wood, Cameron Wright, Abeiku Yankson
OUTLOOK: The Orioles graduated their lone athlete who qualified for the West/Central meet. Yankson (sprints) and Matthew Quinney (mile) fell short of qualifying but will look to break through this season.
Frontier Regional
COACH: Walt Flynn, 36th year
LEAGUE: Intercounty
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-1
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 2 MEET: Tied for eighth
RETURNING ATHLETES: Seniors — Chad Parent, Andy Habel, Dylan Landry, Aidan Waldron, Connor Hamilton, Alex Hamer, Jared Kellogg, Liam Koski, Cam Braverman, Nate Walker; Junior — Aaron Dorshow; Sophomores — Andy Paul, Brandon Trueswell, Miguel Olvera-Aguilera, Joe Cohoon; Freshmen — Ben Hamer, Carsten Carey, Phaelon Koski, Dan Dejnak, Jason Rybczyk, Nate Austin, Aaron Halbach; Eighth Grade — Jared Abt, Rob Calafell, Mike Trueswell, Andrew Logan, Roshan Lamichhane, Sam Hebert, Ryan Huit, Emmett McGranaghan, Brian Stetson, Chris LaBarbera, Ben Morse, Jack Donohue;
NEWCOMERS: Seniors — Robert Rogers-Manatt, Joe Zinan, Ben Tillona, Clay Kocot; Juniors — Ewan Bennett, Luke Parsons, Jonathan Delaney; Sophomores — Matt Carlson, Aaron Landry, Hayden Rouse, Joey Lawton, Tyler Mayrand; Freshmen — Alex Sharp, Johnathan Creque, Josiah Murry; Eighth Grade — Victor McNutt, David Bickford; Seventh Grade — Aidan Roche, Elias Goodwin, Ethan Pierce, Oliver Sackrey, Tanner Finch, Spenser Braverman;
OUTLOOK: Frontier will look to carry its momentum from last year’s impressive season. The Red Hawks will be led by 10 returning seniors, including Parent, who will look to excel in sprints, long jump and triple jump.
Hampshire Regional
COACH: Gary Welch, eighth year
LEAGUE: Suburban
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 5-2
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 2 MEET: 35th
RETURNING ATHLETES: Seniors — Hunter Budrewicz, Dylan Cross, Cody Labrecque, David Labrie, John O’Connor, Kyle Powers, Henry Seney, Eric Trotman; Juniors — Logan Bridgman, Daniel McColgan, Sam Morrison, Anthony Nardi, Tyler Perrone, Alex Rizos, Jackson Roscher, Jordan Rubeck; Sophomores — William Lafosse, Greg Norris, Eric Plantier, Ryan Webster; Freshmen — Colin Bush, Nick Eline, Brian Sullivan; Eighth Grade — Mark Craig, Bennett Kelly, Cobi Loud, Alex Pallante, Christopher Vayda.
NEWCOMERS: Seniors — Tony Campedelli, Alex Kubosiak, Dan Sullivan; Juniors — Marcus Belanger, Oguzhan Ibic; Freshmen — Noah Conners, Oliver Roberts, River Williams; Eighth Grade — Max Abel, Aiden Br, Liam Galpi, Max Macfadden, Kyle Montague, Mason Willard; Seventh Grade — Jacob Bashista, Jadyn Kopie, Miles Lance, Avery O’Connell, Aidan White.
OUTLOOK: The Raiders will be led by senior captains Budrewicz, Powers and Trotman. Cross placed sixth in the 400 at last year’s West/Central meet.
Northampton
COACH: Brandon Palmer, second year
LEAGUE: Valley League
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-1
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 1 MEET: Fourth
ATHLETES: Seniors — Daniel Sam, Jacob Desgres, James Murphy, Marcus Peterson, James Murphy, Gregory Preston, Liam Sullivan, Jeremy Doele, Liam Flynn; Juniors — Jack Chen, Ethan Milsark, Sam Norton, Patrick Quinlan, Nik Smith; Sophomores — Noah Andrew, Eli Christopher, Micheal Dean, Jonathan Dean, Benjamin Gelb, Philip Hempstead, Bobby Innes-Gold, Bennett McCreary, Nicholas Peterson, Peter White; Freshmen — Matthew Callahan, Jay-Ho Chung, Jay-U Chung, Elija Cronk, Hayden Feldscher, Benjamin Gordon-Sniffen, Cole Lavalle, Pierre Macary, Alex Martin, Jason Michel, Benjamin Moss-Horwitz, Tucker Quinlan, Benjamin Raivel, Theo Thompson, Dawit Weisman, Jarrett Borer.
OUTLOOK: Northampton has high expectations this season. Sullivan is one of the top distance runners in the state. Smith is coming off a string indoor sprinting campaign. Sullivan has 21 dual-meet wins entering the season and is chasing 30. Smith is looking to run a perfect season after losing only one race last spring. Northampton could struggle in the field events, but will look to make up for it on the track.
South Hadley
COACH: Nick Davis, fourth year
LEAGUE: Pioneer League
LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 1-8
2015 WEST/CENTRAL DIVISION 1 MEET: 29th
RETURNING ATHLETES: Seniors — Nate Zayas, Will Schenker; Juniors — Evan Petrosky, Austin Holmes, Carter Schoenborn; Sophomores — Tim Edwards, Zabe Solivan, Nick Lajoie, Joe Werenski; Freshmen — Marco Solorio, Matt O’Brien, Jake Fournier
NEWCOMERS: Senior — Dom Florence; Sophomore — Joe Gonclaves; Freshmen — Will Gagne, Ethan Ortyl, Bennett Anz, Noah Longpre, John Parenteau, Cristiano Casolari, Tom O’Neill, Luke Petrosky.
OUTLOOK: The Tigers are a young team that is continuing to grow. Led by the lone seniors Zayas and Schenker, South Hadley will look to improve.