Death, taxes, and Jonas Clarke winning a title – the inevitabilities of life.
South Hadley’s Clarke broke another record on Saturday morning, setting a meet record in the 55-meter dash at the MIAA Indoor Track All-State meet with a blistering time of 6.28 seconds. Clarke’s finish was a full 0.25 seconds ahead of the second place finisher, cementing his status as the fastest high schooler in Massachusetts.
It’s the senior’s first all-state state title, making his victory that much sweeter.
“I was out-leaned my sophomore year and then COVID-19 (happened) my junior year, so it was nice finally getting one,” Clarke said. “With the times, I’m really happy that I stayed consistent… that’s a good omen for nationals that’s upcoming.”
Not content with an all-state championship, he raced in Boston University’s Last Chance meet on Sunday, a college-level meet, in an effort to qualify for indoor nationals in the 200-meter event as well; he qualified in the 55 dash prior to the All-State meet. Running unattached, he crossed the 200-line in 21.90 seconds, securing his spot at the New Balance Nationals March 11-13 in New York City in both the 200 and 55.
“I’ve always had my eyes on nationals, ever since the beginning. Hitting the (All-State) thing – I think it’s almost like a pit stop. I was mostly going for times at states and such. With the time they had I couldn’t be happier,” Clarke said. “So I think now we’re looking forward to nationals and see what I can do there.”
Clarke thanked his sprints coach, Nick Davis, who Clarke said has helped present every opportunity to run at the highest-level events this season.
“A lot of coaches don’t take as much time as he has to analyze my races and take me out every weekend to run at competitive meets, bring me to college meets and get me the exposure that I need throughout the season,” Clarke said. “Since our Western Mass. [indoor] season got canceled, I had to do a lot more, and he was up to do that with me.”
Also finding their way onto the podium was Amherst’s 4×800-meter relay team of David Pinero-Jacome, Kyle Yanko, Diego Lopez and Ben Buffone, who placed 7th overall with a time of 8:15.26.
Emma Sanford, also from South Hadley, tied for 12th overall in the high jump, clearing 5 feet even. She also finished 19th over all in the 55 meter hurdles, clocking a time of 9.06.
The Tigers’ 4×200 meter relay team of Matt McDermott, Liam Sibley-Welch, Tyler Evans, and Clarke finished their run in 1:35.67 for a 15th place finish; they edged out 16th place Shepherd Hill by just 0.11 seconds.
The girls’ 4×200 team from South Hadley, made up of Maggie Evans, Abigail Gelinas, Lauren Marjanski and Sanford, placed 20th overall with a time of 1:54.86
Theodore King-Pollet from Northampton placed 22nd in the 2-mile run, crossing the line in 10:06.05 and bettering his qualifying time by 19 seconds.
Hampshire’s Grace Plumer tied for 19th in the high jump with a leap of 4-10. Josh Denoronha tied for 18th in the high jump, clearing 5-10 for the Raiders.