The Northampton and Amherst Regional boys indoor track and field teams head to the PVIAC championships, Friday at Smith College.
Northampton, which finished second to the Hurricanes by five points last season, will be looking to end Amherst’s five-year hold on the title. The meet begins at 6 p.m.
“Relay is make or break for some other teams,” said Hamp coach Brandon Palmer. “I underestimated what teams were capable of. Looking at our previous meets, we need to maximize our athletes. Every point’s going to matter.”
Senior Nik Smith is seeded first in the 55-meter dash (6.56 seconds) and 300 (35.03), and third (20 feet, 11 inches) in the long jump.
Smith set a Pioneer North record in the 300 (35.54) on Jan. 6 after recovering from a separated shoulder suffered during the Blue Devils’ football season.
“He’s just starting to come into form now,” said Palmer. “It takes a little bit more time in training for track. The whole month of January was just making sure the fitness was right.”
Ben Gordon-Sniffen is seeded first in the 1,000 (2:36.92). Ethan Cooper is second in the 600 (1:24.08).
The Blue Devils rank first in the 4×200 and 4×400 relays.
“I think the guys are ready for their individual events,” said Palmer. “These guys are ready to roll and they’re well rested. I feel very confident with our guys.”
The Hurricanes build during the season with one goal in mind and that’s performing at the championship meet.
“It’s pretty much same scheme from last year,” said coach David Thompson. “We count on the guys to show up and perform and just do our best.”
Junior Aiden Foucault Etheridge is seeded first in the 600 (1:22.18) and sophomore Jack Yanko ranks first in the 2-mile (9:37.44) and fifth in the mile (4:43.32).
The Hurricanes also rank first in the 4×800 (8:06.19), second in the 4×400 (3:28.50) and third in the 4×200 (1:35.41).
Julian Fisher Frank is second in the mile (4:38.32) and Andre Shepard third in the 300 (36.58).
“We look into every year to come out and perform, that’s what we plan to do,” said Thompson. “At the end on the day we want to leave everything on the track.”
The Northampton girls team finished four points behind first-place East Longmeadow in 2016.
“Since the beginning of the year we have been preparing for this meet after how we finished last year,” said Hamp coach Ryan Davis. “I think having the focus from the get-go has given us a good chance at winning this year.”
Senior Scarlet Sands Bliss ranks second in the 600 (1:40.35) and third in the high jump (5-0).
The Blue Devils rank fifth in the 4×200 (1:53.35), first in the 4×400 (4:19.98) and second in the 4×800 (10:10.14).
Northampton captured the Pioneer North league title during the final meet of the season.
The Blue Devils are looking for their first title since 2010.
“We feel prepared and confident,” Davis said. “The snow days gave us a little less time than I would have liked, but I’ve been giving them homework to prepare, like writing about being a good teammate and different visualization exercises. I think they are mentally prepared.”
The Amherst girls have a few No. 1 seeds. Sophia Jacobs-Townsley tops the fields in the mile (5:11.45) and 2-mile (11:21.03).
Sophomore Julia Hopley ranks first in the 1000 (3:10.95).
South Hadley has the top girls 4×800 relay (10:06.91).
Savannah Sudyka is seeded second in the shot put (35-9½). Sarah Fudger is third in the 600 (1:41.97) and Jocelyne Rondeau third in the 1,000 (3:12.11).
South Hadley’s Evan Levrault is third in the boys shot put (43-5¾).