For the second straight year, the South Hadley girls track & field team couldn’t catch Bomfield.
But for the second straight year, the Tigers topped the field from western Massachusetts.
South Hadley took home the runner-up trophy at the West/Central Division 2 championships, Saturday at Fitchburg State University.
“Watching the kids battle through the heat and see what they wanted … I can’t complain about the overall result,” South Hadley coach Nick Davis said. “The girls did everything they could.”
Bromfield held off South Hadley, 63½-59. The Tigers were one spot better than Mount Greylock (48 points), which won the District F&G Division 2 title a week ago.
“Competing with Greylock is always a blast,” Davis said. “We don’t see them in the regular season, but we know they will always give us a run for our money. The girls are incredible athletes and really nice. Our girls have a good relationship with them. It’s fun to get out there and compete.”
Lindsay Marjanski and the Tigers built off her victory in the pentathlon on Thursday.
Marjanski won the high jump at 5 feet, 6 inches. She tied Bromfield’s Samantha Schoenbe, but Marjanski took fewer attempts to clear the height.
Jocelyne Rondeau made her return to the meet a successful one. Last year, Rondeau had an emergency appendectomy prior to the championships and could not compete.
This year, Rondeau placed second in the 800 in 2 minutes, 24.88 seconds and anchored the third-place 4×400 relay (4:13.57). Maddie Doolittle, Paige Marjanski and Anna Evans ran the first three legs of the relay.
“Having (Rondeau) is invaluable to us,” Davis said. “Not a lot of girls who have come through the program can perform under pressure like she does. We missed her last year.”
Rondeau was attempting to qualify for nationals in the 800. She was on pace and leading after one lap, but started to lose her form with about 150 meters to go, according to Davis. With about 10 meters left she collapsed.
“She got up and still got across in 2:24,” Davis said. “When the body gets that hot, to fight through it it’s incredible. She has more drive than anybody I met.”
Savannah Sudyka placed third in the shot put (34-6¾). Marjanski added a sixth in the 200 (26.83), while Sarah Fudger (800, 2:27.4) and Paige Marjanski (triple jump, 34-8½) were each seventh.
The 4×100 relay of Amy Hampson, Teagan Gawron, Kayla Carleton and Sudyka was second in 51.69, while the 4×8 was sixth (10:21.13). Paige Marjanski added an eight in the long jump (16-6).
Hampshire Regional’s Hannah Labrie (100 hurdles, 16.61) and Jillian Scott (pole vault, 9-0) were each third. Brianne Salomao (long jump, 17-1) was sixth. The Raiders’ 4×100 relay was eighth (52.84). Grace Plumer tied for seventh in the high jump (4-10).
Frontier Regional’s Reilly Isler was second in the javelin (109-8), Olivia Vecellio was fifth in the discus (91-0) and Lillian Powers tied for fifth in the pole vault (8-0).
Hampshire finished 20th (16¾) and Frontier was 21st (15).
Frontier Regional eighth-grader Jack Vecellio won the pole vault at 11-6.
Vecellio tied Seth Talbot, of Quabbin, but cleared the mark in fewer attempts.
Teammate Brandyn Robinson was sixth in the 400 (53.23) as was Phaelon Koski in the 400 hurdles (59.33). Carsten Carey was seventh in the 2-mile (10:16.05).
Belchertown performed well. Zach Bail was fifth in the 800 (2:04.18), while Joel Wyzik was fifth in the shot put (41-6¾) and sixth in the discus (116-4).
South Hadley’s Nick Lajoie was second in the 110 hurdles (16.09) and fourth in the long jump (20-¾)
Hampshire Regional’s Peter Jacek was fourth in the high jump (6-0) to advance to All-States.
The top four individuals in each event at each sectional championship, plus the next six finishers advance to All-States.
Ayer Shirley won the boys title with 78 points. Frontier was 16th (18), South Hadley 21st (13) and Belchertown 24th (11).