NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton girls indoor track and field team won its first PVIAC title since 2010 Friday night at Smith College.
“We were always second for so long and so it feels really good to get this senior year,” said Evelyn Burke.
The Blue Devils went 11-1 during the regular and were co-Pioneer North champions.
“You never know until it’s over,” said Northampton coach Ryan Davis. “It was great performance after great performance.”
The Blue Devils were four points ahead of Minnechaug through the first six events, but their consistency held their lead for the remainder of the meet.
Northampton finished with 89 points. Longmeadow was second with 69 points and Minnechaug third (62). Amherst was fourth with 58 points.
“I just told them to enjoy this victory, but go onto the next event,” Davis said. “That’s pretty much how this season’s gone. The girls have been extremely mentally strong, which was a game changer I think.”
Hamp was just short of winning in 2016, falling four points behind East Longmeadow.
“We were able to take our losses and take our victories and learn from them, this season and last season,” Davis said.
Northampton had one individual event winner, Hazel Ethier, who took the long jump in 16 feet, 11 inches.
Senior Scarlet Sands Bliss placed third in the high jump (4-10).
“It feels awesome,” said Sands Bliss. “We are so happy to have broken the streak. Throughout my high school career, we’ve just placed second.”
Burke finished third in the mile (5 minutes, 23.88 seconds) and fourth in the 2-mile (11:55).
Senior Jemma Fisher finished fifth in the 2-mile (12:06). Freshman Mary Yount finished second in the mile (5:23.77).
“Our coach wasn’t telling us the points throughout the meet to make sure we were all trying our hardest,” said Burke. “Every single person gave it their all. It helps having depth in every single event. That makes it strong throughout the entire meet.”
Emma Harder finished sixth in the 55-meter dash (7.74).
The Blue Devils also placed fourth in the 4×200 relay (1:53.35) and second in the 4×800 relay (10:61.81) behind South Hadley. Morgan Harrington, Anna Moriarty, Jocelyne Rondeau and Sarah Fudger won for the Tigers.
The Northampton girls gathered for a group photo with the boys team, which also captured first place.
“We always have a lot of love from the Northampton fans and families,” said Davis. “We’re just a huge family and this community is awesome and really accepting of track.”
Amherst Regional sophomore Sophia Jacobs-Townsley finishes first in the mile (5:18.86) and 2-mile (11:21).